Designers often take a traditional approach to conveying design processes and actually performing design-related tasks, whether or not their actual designs are outside the box or not. One topic under discussion looks at the role of design in contemporary society. Some argue that design plays a much different, and more important, or at least prevalent, role than it has in the past. As such, what is demanded of design and designers has changed. Consider how design is factored into society and how contemporary views on design require shifts in tone, style and practices relating to design.
Denim jeans are popular across the world. They are both functional and fashionable, and people enjoy them for either of those reasons, and often both. As such, they make a popular topic in fashion design, especially when considering them at the national level. Consider denim jeans and their use across various nations. Do individuals in certain countries look more for aesthetic or functional qualities? For instance, a study published in "The Design Journal" revealed that women in China more typically look for functional jeans, while Canadian women looked more at their aesthetic qualities.
For many years, there was a general distinction between the designer and her design, and the user in which the design or designed product is produced for. In contemporary society, that distinction is less clear. Consider the ways in which products and services allow the user to design his own space or product. The methods for this include online shops where personalized color combinations and traits for products like shoes can be chosen before purchase, and with stores that offer furniture that can be manipulated or designed from various pieces. Examine how this affects the design field in general and what it means for the future of the field.
One interesting topic in design is the ways in which design practices can impact topics pertaining to sustainability. Many designers, activists and others involved with sustainability practices use design to make more progressive, environmentally friendly constructions. This field is called design activism. It is an evolving topic that places design in the context of global-local tensions, community design and collectivist design organizations.