A Failed Social Innovation Experiment in Rural China
Summary. A participatory action research project in rural China attempted to extend the impact of short-term design interventions through a toolkit approach. Despite three iterations, the experiment failed to achieve its goals of fostering sustainable village development. The researchers found that rigid tools and linear problem-solving approaches don't work in village settings. They conclude that lasting rural innovation requires flexibility, adaptability, and attention to both tangible and intangible legacies rather than predetermined frameworks.
Cite this article
Zhang, C., Auricchio, V., & Selloni, D.. (2025). A Failed Social Innovation Experiment in Rural China. https://doi.org/10.21606/servdes2025.29
Zhang, Chenfan, et al. “A Failed Social Innovation Experiment in Rural China.” 2025. https://doi.org/10.21606/servdes2025.29.
Zhang, Chenfan, Valentina Auricchio, and Daniela Selloni. 2025. “A Failed Social Innovation Experiment in Rural China.” https://doi.org/10.21606/servdes2025.29.
@article{zhang-2025-failed-social-innovation-experiment-rural,
title = {A Failed Social Innovation Experiment in Rural China},
author = {Chenfan Zhang and Valentina Auricchio and Daniela Selloni},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.21606/servdes2025.29},
url = {https://doi.org/10.21606/servdes2025.29}
}
TY - JOUR TI - A Failed Social Innovation Experiment in Rural China AU - Chenfan Zhang AU - Valentina Auricchio AU - Daniela Selloni PY - 2025 DO - 10.21606/servdes2025.29 UR - https://doi.org/10.21606/servdes2025.29 ER -
Details
- DOI
- 10.21606/servdes2025.29
- Countries
- China
- Regions
- Asia
- Categories
- innovation-theory, regional-innovation-systems
- Added
- 2026-04-28