ABOUT DON NORMAN
DESIGN AWARD

BEHIND DNDA

PIONEERING HUMANITY-CENTERED DESIGN

Book cover of Design for A Better World by Don Norman The essence of the Don Norman Design Award (DNDA) lies in the principles outlined in Don Norman’s book, “Design for a Better World: Meaningful, Sustainable, Humanity Centered,” published by MIT Press in 2023. This publication serves as the foundation for our organization’s philosophy.

DNDA envisions a world where design embraces the well-being of humanity, encompassing diverse cultures, the environment, and all living beings. Through our awards and global summit, we strive to inspire a new generation of designers and educators, catalyzing positive change. At DNDA, we firmly believe that true innovation necessitates a comprehensive understanding of and response to the needs of the entire ecosystem. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STEERING INNOVATION AND IMPACT

At the helm of the Don Norman Design Award is our Board of Directors, who bring a wealth of experience, insight, and passion to our mission. Each member is a champion of humanity-centered design, committed to guiding the DNDA towards achieving its ambitious goals. Their strategic oversight ensures that our initiatives not only celebrate creativity and innovation but also drive tangible, positive change in the world. 

Don Norman, Don Norman Design Award
Co-founder
Don Norman Design Award
Anil Kripalani headshot
Arlene Harris
N Rao Machiraju headshot
DNDA Board Member
Srini Srinivasan headshot
Prof of Industrial Design & Chief Operations Officer

ADVISORY BOARD

GUIDANCE FROM THE FOREFRONT OF DESIGN

The Board of Advisors for the Don Norman Design Awards consists of experts and thought leaders in design, education, and social innovation. Our advisors provide guidance on emerging trends, educational strategies, and best practices, ensuring that our programs are impactful and meaningful, helping address the many issues that face society.

Anne Asensio headshot
Vice President Design Experience, Dassault Systèmes Regional Advisor, World Design Organisation (WDO)
Luisa Collina, Politecnico di Milano
Full Professor of Design
Politecnico di Milano
Arturo Elenes headshot
Co-founder / Partner
Enigma Creative
Jorge Gracia García, GRACIASTUDIO
Visionary Founder and Principal
GRACIASTUDIO
Lilian González-González headshot
Academic coordinator of industrial design
Stacy Kelley headshot
Director
Set + Drift
Richie Moalosi headshot
Professor and Director
University of Botswana Innovation Centre
Mugendi M’Rithaa headshot
President Emeritus
World Design Organization
Maish Nichani
Guillermina Noel
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Lesley-Ann Noel's headshot
North Carolina State University
Elena Pacenti, MDes Interaction Design
Director
MDes Interaction Design
Sanjay Purohit headshot
​​Chief Curator
Societal Thinking
Jorge (Jofras) Francisco Sánchez
Katalina Silva, Enigma Creative
Enigma Creative
Yrjö Sotamaa headshot
Chairman of the Board
Ateljé Sotamaa
Carla Spinillo, The Federal University of Paraná, Brazil
Lecturer and researcher
The Federal University of Paraná, Brazil
Victor Udoewa headshot
Service Design Lead
CDC

FOUNDING DESIGN CHAMPION

PASSION FOR DESIGN

The Founding Design Champion for the Don Norman Design Awards epitomizes our mission and values, creating of a better world through design. He has collaborated diligently with the Board and Web Team on all the elements of the program, from website to logo, and the design of our trophies, 3D printed with a sustainable wood, as well as other important components of our designs. In addition, his own activities, described in his biographical sketch, epitomize the spirit of the program.

Co-Founder
Leaves.us and Slide Teller

OPERATION TEAM

PROMOTING AWARENESS

At DNDA, we understand the importance of effectively communicating our message. That’s why we have a talented team leading the way in messaging and developing our online identity. They are committed to providing our community with the necessary information and building blocks to make a positive impact on the world through design.

Vice President, Communications & Donor Relations
Web developer/Storyteller
MISSION

EMPOWERING CHANGE THROUGH DESIGN

Our mission is to advance Humanity-Centered Design across the world. Why? Because it is a powerful method focused upon quality of life, working with communities to help them solve the problems they face. The methods follow lessons learned from the small startup projects that start small, and carefully advance minimally viable components that are easy to test, easy to revise, slowly increasing the power and scope of the project to cover large and larger groups, all based upon tested and proven methods.

Humanity-Centered Design is an expansion of Human-Centered Design, HCD, adding consideration of the impact of the work upon all living things and the world’s ecological system: HCD+, the “+” indicating the additional enlargement of the factors under consideration. Moreover, a fundamental consideration is to avoid being colonizers, telling communities what to do. HCD+ is a system of mentoring and assisting, ensuring that the actual projects are done with and by the communities.

The Don Norman Design Award and Summit program has three components:

  1. Awards to practitioners who show evidence of positive enhancement in communities, given early in their career when the award and recognition are most meaningful.
  2. Awards to education groups, formal and informal, that empower people with the knowledge, tools, and procedures of HCD+. These institutions must provide evidence of success through the work of their graduates.
  3. An annual Summit, where groups across the world convene to share their experiences and learnings, presenting not just successes, but also the hurdles and failures they experienced, and what lessons resulted.

This is a call to action to embrace a humanity-centered approach, ensuring that the future of design is inclusive, responsible, and deeply connected to the well-being of all life on our planet.

(Photo credit: Shih-hong Yang)