Huge thanks to everyone who shared and replied to this question! We've wrapped up our material culture unit and I've shared the thread with my design ethnography students. Great stuff here https://twitter.com/annegalloway/status/1257468899328696322?s=20

Students also came up with some guidelines for designers when it comes to working with material culture. In no particular order:

Make products for the worst case scenario of disposal.

Design for the preservation of human rights.

Step away from consumerism and being in an economic state of mind to think more sustainably.

Ensure you are aware of the consequences and repercussions of the things that you make.

Is there really a problem being solved? Make products that are needed in the world.

Actually see where the product will be manufactured & do your research before choosing where to manufacture a product.

Get into an activist headspace.

Pay attention to who you are producing for & why bad design happens.

Ask if your material choices reflect your values.

(Many thanks to the thoughtfulness of our second-year design for social innovation students!)