Borderline Agency in Contemporary Industrial Design: An Analysis of Trends and Patterns

Product design, beyond merely responding to user needs, reflects a lifestyle and narrates the culture and social transformations of its time. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, industrial design has expanded beyond the boundaries of pure functionalism, becoming an active practice in social, political, and cultural spheres. This transformation highlights the designer's role as a border activist, navigating between different knowledge systems, values, and structural frameworks. Meanwhile, the expansion of postcolonial studies in the fields of art and design has led to the emergence of new perspectives on international design and paved the way for rethinking dominance-oriented patterns in global design. The present article, adopting a qualitative and descriptive-analytical approach, examines the concept of “borderline agency” in contemporary industrial design. By analyzing major trends and notable design examples, it identifies the common characteristics of these new design forms. The results indicate that borderline agency in design provides a platform for redefining the role of the designer, enhancing critical awareness, and fostering creative social change. In the future, it can be employed as a strategic yet cautious approach in industrial design.

کلیدواژه ها:

Borderline Agency ، Industrial Design ، Globalization