Design for Good

The design of homes, schools, workplaces and public spaces shapes the quality of life more than almost anything else, John Cary argues, yet good design is often treated as a luxury reserved for the rich. He tells character-driven stories of projects around the world that were designed with and for the people who use them. Examples include the Butaro Hospital in Rwanda, built from local materials with Rwandans, one of whom learned masonry, the Mulan Primary School in Guangdong, China, and the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College. Cary draws on his own experience and dozens of interviews. It is meant for professionals and interested citizens who want to demand design that dignifies.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon included it in a Facebook post sharing his favorite reads from 2017.