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Design for the Other 90%
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Design for the Other 90%

Opportunity in Design for Developing Communities

Understanding the Context

  • There is a significant opportunity to create modest design efforts that can greatly benefit individuals, as each client has unique situations but shares common themes.
  • Economic issues are prevalent, with a focus on providing savings and building a middle class from the ground up; political challenges arise as governments cannot be the sole providers of solutions.

Cultural and Social Dynamics

  • Individuals in developing regions are hardworking and seek opportunities rather than handouts; they desire to improve their lives and support their families.
  • A misconception exists that adults in developing countries adapt to poor water quality; however, 5,000 people die daily from waterborne diseases.

Innovative Solutions for Public Health

Addressing Waterborne Diseases

  • Diseases like typhoid and cholera claim 1.7 million lives annually due to inadequate sanitation; thus, affordable water filters are essential.
  • The LIF straw is an innovative solution that allows users to filter water simply by sucking it through the straw, promoting public health sustainably.

Humanitarian Entrepreneurship

  • IDE aims to add $500 annually to 30 million families' incomes through innovative agricultural tools designed for small-scale farmers.
  • Manually operated irrigation pumps called "money maker pumps" enable farmers to increase yields significantly, addressing poverty directly.

Marketing Strategies for Sustainable Impact

Promotion and Community Engagement

  • Effective marketing strategies are crucial; IDE utilized bicycles as promotional tools by distributing them among team members for outreach in villages.
  • In Kumu city, where bicycle taxis dominate transportation, leveraging this mode of transport enhances community engagement and product visibility.

Designing Practical Tools for Daily Life

Addressing Gender Roles in Water Collection

  • Women and girls often bear the burden of collecting water; designing tools like the C drum can alleviate this responsibility and free up time for education or work.

User-Centric Design Approach

  • Engaging day laborers in the design process helps identify practical needs, ensuring that solutions enhance safety and efficiency within communities.

Iterative Design Process

Rapid Prototyping Techniques

  • The design approach emphasizes quick iterations with concepts such as using styrofoam boxes with LED lights to visualize ideas effectively.

Affordability Challenges

  • Many useful technologies exist but remain unused due to high maintenance costs; affordability must be prioritized in product development (e.g., hearing aids).

Sustainable Materials and Local Resources

Utilizing Indigenous Technologies

  • Good design does not require expensive materials; local resources can be harnessed effectively (e.g., indigenous cooling pots).

Waste Reduction Initiatives

  • Post-disaster waste can be repurposed into valuable resources for furniture or other utilitarian designs, promoting sustainability while addressing community needs.

Harnessing Solar Power for Development

The Role of Solar Technology in Developing Countries

  • Many countries with abundant sunshine can benefit from solar technology, utilizing it as a natural resource to harness energy effectively.
  • Emphasizing the need for low-energy consumption processors, there is potential to streamline computer designs by eliminating unnecessary software and features.

Importance of Literacy in Societal Development

  • Literacy is crucial; literate individuals can read essential information such as medical instructions and agricultural guidelines, enhancing their participation in society.
  • In rural Africa, economic desperation leads to vote selling. Raising the value of votes through education and middle-class development could strengthen democracy.

Community Rebuilding Through Architecture

  • Improved governance and reduced corruption can result from building a middle class that values democratic processes over monetary incentives.
  • Architectural projects should focus on social processes rather than just physical structures, emphasizing community involvement in rebuilding efforts.

Engaging Communities in Reconstruction Efforts

  • Participation in construction fosters community spirit; hands-on involvement allows individuals to contribute meaningfully to their neighborhoods.
  • Training local people without job skills through deconstruction and furniture building initiatives serves as a catalyst for community engagement and discussion about neighborhood improvements.

Redefining Design's Purpose

  • Designers are encouraged to serve the public good more actively, moving beyond traditional client-focused work.
  • The concept of "design for the other 90%" aims to revolutionize design education globally, creating platforms for designers to address pressing issues faced by underserved populations.
Video description

Designers, engineers, students and professors, architects, and social entrepreneurs from all over the globe are devising cost-effective ways to increase access to food and water, energy, education, healthcare, revenue-generating activities, and affordable transportation for those who most need them. And an increasing number of initiatives are providing solutions for underserved populations in developed countries such as the United States. Encompassing a broad set of modern social and economic concerns, these design innovations often support responsible, sustainable economic policy. They help, rather than exploit, poorer economies; minimize environmental impact; increase social inclusion; improve healthcare at all levels; and advance the quality and accessibility of education. These designers' voices are passionate, and their points of view range widely on how best to address these important issues. Each object on display tells a story, and provides a window through which we can observe this expanding field. Design for the Other 90% demonstrates how design can be a dynamic force in saving and transforming lives, at home and around the world. On view at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum through September 23, 2007.