“The test for innovation will be its success in new global markets.”

This quote is from the article, “Principles For Social Innovation In 2012: Follow Emerging Economies,” from Fast Company’s blog Co.EXIST. It provides an insightful analysis of the emerging global middle class and is a call to action for social innovators, designers and businesses to “aggregate consumer and citizen power to create change.”

Other highlights from the article:

“What does that mean as we plan for the year ahead? As a starting point, your organization should ask itself this: where are we looking for our future growth and impact? Are our priorities shaped by the growth patterns of the past, or by the growth trajectories of the future? Understanding the dynamics of this major global change can ensure that our organizations stay relevant.”

“Just as companies like Groupon and Gilt have aggregated consumer power for discounts, social innovators will aggregate consumer and citizen power for change. That might involve demanding changes to environmental or commercial practices. It might involve shifting large numbers away from businesses that won’t stop causing harm to the environment or specific communities. It might mean bringing pressure to bear on governments. Whatever its form, it will see the development of a new breed of “movement entrepreneurs,” who use mobile and Internet platforms to aggregate and organize action.”

Two articles in one day about the role of social innovation and design to spirit the economy, create new opportunities, and create greater value and prosperity in the U.S. and the rest of the world

The first, 4 Reasons Why The Future Of Capitalism Is Homegrown, Small Scale, And Independent, written by Bruce Nussbaum for Fast Company discusses the emergence of indie capitalism and the community of makers that are re-defining what it means to be a capitalist. In the cases of these creative entrepreneurs, it means designing, financing, producing and selling high quality goods locally and with intentionality in each step of the process.

The second article written by co-founder of Seventh Generation, Jeffrey Hollender, for the Huffington Post is entitled, What the World Needs Now: Social Innovation. In it he explains, “We used to think that politicians, business executives, NGOs or even religious figures would save the world. The truth is that we have entered a new age, an age in which it will be designers that solve our toughest problems.” Amen, Jeffrey.

Those of us working in the realm of design and social innovation are not surprised by the ideas expressed in these articles, but it is exciting to read about them in broader circles. The combination of design thinking (and doing) and social innovation creates a powerful tool for re-designing systems that impact us all. It is with great optimism that I look towards 2012 as a year when the work of social innovation design will be given greater opportunity to create positive change in the world, one local homegrown solution at a time.