AI and the role of global design research

Integrating new technologies like AI into our daily lives and work is not a new concept. In our Reach School sessions in 2024, we have engaged in multiple conversations about AI. We believe it is our responsibility to understand what efforts are needed to create meaningful, positive, and humane ways of utilizing AI, around the world.

The Reach Network is a global community of experienced, impact-driven designers committed to engaging in meaningful projects. Our Monthly Reach School provides a safe space to seek and offer feedback on ongoing projects, as well as to learn from each other’s experiences to enhance the effectiveness of our work. In a recent Reach School, we convened to discuss a prototype of an online guide designed for the creative industries aimed at making a positive impact on climate and social justice. This guide draws on ten years of insights from What Design Can Do (WDCD). Various professionals from the Reach Network were actively involved in developing the research and insights that formed the foundation of this guide. By engaging in meaningful conversations and sharing experiences, we utilised our extensive knowledge to provide informed feedback and assess the product's effectiveness in the field.

In June 2025, seven studios from the Reach Network contributed stories and reflections on the engagements they have had with system transformations. Our journey into system transformation revealed a fundamental truth: it’s about looking beyond isolated problems to understand interconnected challenges. For those designing solutions, this means shifting from fixing individual parts to engage with the system as a whole. For everyone, it’s about asking: What are the hidden connections, and how do changes ripple through the whole? Working systemically demands a particular way of thinking. It's about embracing curiosity, humility, and a willingness to collaborate across diverse perspectives. We observed the value of going broad in our understanding before diving deeper into specific areas. One helpful analogy that emerged was that of a gardener, nurturing growth and working with natural systems rather than simply trying to fix broken elements.