In August 2011, Insight Labs and Cannon Design initiated a project to tackle a monumental question: what could we add or take away from the concept of “design” to better serve humanity?

The project began with the selection of artists, designers, and thinkers from a variety of design disciplines. Labs Content Director Andrew Benedict-Nelson interviewed each of the designers about how the question under consideration applied to his or her discipline. Those ideas collided in the three-hour session coordinated by Labs Dean Jeff Leitner, which included a memorable plea for a “Hippocraic Oath” of design. Finally, many of the participants contributed artifacts inspired by their experience to an exhibit that is currently on display at Cannon. Co-Founder Howell J. Malham represented the Labs at the event. Read his reflections on the experience here.

The “Humanity of Design” exhibit is open to the public through Sept. 30 at Cannon’s offices, 111 W. Washington St., Suite 2100 in Chicago. Click on the thumbnails below to view photos from the exhibit opening as well as statements from the artists and designers who participated. Photographs by Sarah C. Malin, Cannon in-house anthropologist.