COVID-19 and the emergency of new economies for the design of a new world

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic situation has proven the fragilities of the current lifestyles of humanity. The previously established patterns, as they were, a predominately linear type of economy, and the manners for generating work and income, were based on production and consumption. However, that proved to be unsustainable due to the necessity of social isolation. In this context, the aim of this article is to resume the emergency for finding new ways of thinking and acting in the economy and to explore emerging views. A documental research and narrative literature review were performed to foster this discussion. A comparative framework based on four models of new economies that have arisen in the literature between the end of the XX century and the beginning of the XXI was constructed. Design evolution is related to circular, distributed, creative, and regenerative economy as an agent for change. Then, in conclusion, the authors reported on strategies and actions that have been created during the pandemic to corroborate on views posed by the new economies and design culture that are constantly being transformed in the eminence of contributing to a new material and immaterial world.