Framework for Social Implementation
Authors: Yamazaki Kazuhiko 
Published: June 2023

It is said that in Japan, technological innovation has progressed but social transformation has not. The challenge for Japan is not so much innovation and technology, but rather the lack of progress in implementing them in society and linking them to social transformation. From now on, linking innovation and technology to social transformation and social implementation has the potential to improve life in Japan and restore Japan's competitiveness. And design activities have the potential to contribute to such activities. In this section, we will explain the framework for social implementation, social experiments and experience prototypes as an approach to social implementation.Social experiments and experience prototypes are important for design activities toward social implementation. Here, social implementation is defined as activities to change society. Social experimentation is defined as a small experiment for social implementation. An experiential prototype is defined as a prototype that can be experienced, which is necessary for social experiments. These three elements are defined as the "framework for social implementation. Social implementation, social experiments, and experience prototypes are explained below.Social experiment is "a trial of a new system, technology, or other measure in a limited location and time period to verify its effectiveness, identify problems, and sometimes to determine whether or not to introduce the measure on a full-scale basis. It also serves to exchange opinions with local residents, and to inform the public and build consensus. In some cases, the term "social experiment" is defined as "a social experiment that is implemented in a social context. Here, a social experiment is defined as "a small experiment for social implementation.Experiential prototypes are defined as "prototypes that can be experienced, which is necessary for social experiments. An experience prototype is one of those prototypes that is intended to be experienced by users and citizens. The experience prototype for service design leads to the experience prototype to plan services in an event-like manner and within a limited time frame.From the perspective of the process toward social implementation, there are top-down and bottom-up approaches. There is a top-down approach, in which the vision of what kind of social implementation is desired is first considered, then the necessary social experiments are studied, and the experience prototypes necessary for the social experiments are prepared. There is also a bottom-up approach, in which the vision for social implementation is not clearly defined from the outset, but rather a series of experience prototypes and small social experiments are conducted to the extent that they are feasible, and the vision for social implementation is considered.　As a university education for social implementation, we will introduce a case study of the Department of Creative Innovation at Musashino Art University. In this department, the first and second years are based on formative education, and from the third year, an educational program for social implementation begins in earnest. The "Industry-University Project Practice" in the second semester of the third year is an educational program for acquiring practical creative innovation skills through the execution of projects with local communities, governments, and companies.Here, "Framework for Social Implementation," social implementation, social experiments and hands-on prototypes are explained. The case of Musashino Art University was introduced as an example of university education for social implementation. We hope that the discussion will deepen on approaches for social implementation and methods of social experiments in the future.