Abstract

Society and prison are worlds divided by much more than a wall. Judgments and the absence of love are abysses that separate humanity. Collective creation is a fertile atmosphere for trust and respect to emerging. The design constitutes a vital medium to contribute to the approach of worlds and the generation of emotions that help to this encounter. The design is a fertile environment because it integrates and stimulates creativity and allows collective creation. A five-year project put together design students and prisoners to work collaboratively to add new knowledge in sustainability and a more in-depth understanding of society. This experience is central to observe the flow of emotions, the contribution of collective creation and the integration of design in complex social areas. Therefore, this paper was built from a linking project between design students and prisoners. Its structure reflects the observation, the reading of testimonies and the sensitivity analysis of the results. The content is mainly composed of the experience of those who participated. This article invites to reflect on the role of design as a driver of social integration and collective creation as active participation in the construction of a cultural perspective focused on the well-being of all people.