9/25/08 Homework A: Systems Mapping

Due Thursday October 2.

The UN Millennium Goals all pertain to a different area of focus, yet, they are indubitably interconnected. To address one problem, one must consider all. Because of this, it is important that we understand the system in which these are in and how they all affect each other. 

The difference between a designer and a design entrepreneur is having the ability to look between the cracks and uncover overlooked problems. It is the aim of this brainstorm to dig into these cracks and discover your design opportunity. 

As a group, and based off of our brainstorm in class, diagram how the different systems of the UN MDGs relate to one another and different scales of issues, from political structure to baby bottles, in one large visually represented poster that will be used as a centerfold for the book.

9/25/08 Homework B: Story Boards- A day in the Life

Due Tuesday Sept 30

Depict a day in the life of an individual living in a particular region.

Type of people: rural poor farmer, a little girl, a little boy, a town's political figure, a pregnant mother, an HIV+ market vendor, a rural doctor, a rural teacher. (You will choose one of these in class.)

Location: Your story board will be using the same region you did your research on for the UN MDGs.

Do your best to convey what this person's day looks like from the time they wake up to the time they go to sleep in 1 spread of legal size paper (i.e. two facing pages totalling 17" x 14"). . Post your spread to your blog.

Your story board can be drawn or collaged- then scanned in, photoshopped, done in illustrator, or a combination there of. Have fun! 

Claudia Ford on the History of Development

Claudia Ford, Director of RISD's International Affairs, speaks to RISD's Design for Social Entrepreneurship class to share her knowledge on the history of development and some of the criticisms of the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Below is her slideshow and stay tuned for the live video series!

Claudia Ford Presentation

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: ford claudia)

Thank you Claudia for sharing your wealth of knowledge, experience, and grace with our class! 

Homework A: International Precedents

Due Thursday: September 25.

There are numerous organizations, products and services that are currently attempting to address the MDGs either directly or indirectly. It is important to be aware of existing precedents to build upon other’s experiences as to improve and not duplicate  what has already been done. We will look at several of these precedents as they  relate to the MDGs and consider what works and what doesn’t work with their  project or particular approach. 

Thanks to our friend Emily Pilloton at Project H, as well as Design for the Other 90%, we have an easy way of searching through the various products for Humanitarian Design. Below are just some examples of products out there, but be sure to check out all the products as listed on Project H and Cooper Hewitt's Design for the Other 90% exhibits. Stay tuned as the class will get to hear from Emily herself, along with Timothy Prestero of Design that Matters on October 9th, with a chance for students to discuss their own project ideas. 

Deliverable: Choose one of the products from the list below or another product you would like to investigate and create an 8.5" x 14" page layout depicting the product while considering the following questions: 

What problem statement does the product address?

Is the product affordable?

Is it culturally appropriate?

Does it use locally available materials and resources? 

Is it donated or bought?

If it is currently in the field, what type of impact is it having?

What are some of the criticisms of the product? (if none are published, think of some on your own)

Is this product subsidized by selling to a developed market at higher cost?

How does the product address the UN Millennium Development Goal(s)?

How does the product empower its user(s)?

Does the product fit into a larger systemized implementation strategy?

Come into class on Thursday prepared to present your research. 

KickStart
Hippo Water Roller
PlayPumps
DtM Infant Incubator
Kinkajou Microfilm Projector
OLPC
Life Straw

PermaNet

Acuset IV Flow Controller + Check out DtM for more project history.

WorldBike

ProteinForte

Freeplay Energy- wind up energy for access (choose one of the products listed)
Project-Impact-Hearing Aids
VisionSpring- eyewear business in a bag

Homework B: Brainstorm Sketches

Inspired from your research of an existing precedent, quickly sketch out about 10 product or service ideas that come to mind. These can be ways to improve the product, a variation, or a new product all together. 

Scan them in and post your sketches to your blog and come into class prepared to share your ideas. 

Day 2: Pyramids and Countries

Today in class we discussed the concept, "Bottom of the Pyramid," which refers to the 4 billion people in the world living off of $2/day or less, typically in developing countries. However, the pyramid concepts actually implies a hierarchy, which is a mentality we want to avoid. Another pyramid is Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. In this class we will be looking at products and or services that address the bottom of this pyramid, to move people up the latter to self-actualization. This is not to imply however, that this should lead to how people in the US and "developed" countries lead their lives with their rate of consumption, as I discuss here. 

Least Developed Countries (LDCs) were chosen from around the globe for students to research. Stay tuned to read their findings on their blogs. 

Homework Assignment A: Inspiration and Information

This week's homework assignment is meant to give us a greater understanding of what some people and organizations are currently doing today to address global concerns throughout the globe, and to give us greater understanding of the context of these situations. As well as inspire us to see some of the progressive thinkers of our day. 

The speakers we will watch vary from native peoples, social entrepreneurs, politicians, comedians, and beyond, all finding a way to use their skills for the greater good. Additionally, the approaches to development vary from speaker to speaker from government aid, to investing in education, to products to increase income and etc. Let us think about different forms of partnership, empowerment, and mutually beneficial investments. 

As you watch consider these questions: 

What global concern does the person discuss?

What is the main thesis and other important points and facts of their talk?

What country or region are they talking about?

What is the context?

Are there any specific numbers or statistics they discuss to convey their argument?

How does this person's talk or work relate to a UN MDG?

What type of emotion does the talk convey?

Develop one page 8 1/2" x 14" visually representing the talk and information discussed-as well as the emotional landscape. And be prepared to present your page and your thoughts on Tuesday. 

If there is a different speaker not listed here that you would like to research and present on, please contact me. Feel free to browse other TED talk and PopTech! speakers and explore as there are so many amazing ones to watch!

The suggested speakers below are more or less related to the following themes:  

Poverty:
Andrew Mwenda- Rethinking African Aid

Iqbal Quadir- How Cell-Phones are going to End Poverty. 

Jessica Flannery- Kiva.org

Education: 

Sugata Mitra- Can kids teach themselves?

Gender Equality: 

Eve Ensler- Finding happiness in body and soul

Child Mortality: 

Amy Smith- The Number one Cause of Infant Death

Maternal Health: 

At Highest Risk- YouTube

UN Millennium Campaign- YouTube

UNICEF- Child and Maternal Mortality

HIV/AIDS + Diseases: 

Emily Oster-  The Economics of AIDS in Africa

Zinny- Fighting HIV/AIDS in South Africa 

Bill Clinton- Clinton Global Initiative- Building Healthcare

Environmental Sustainability: 

The Story of Stuff- Annie Leonard

Al Gore- Averting Climate Crisis

Global Partnership: 

Patrick Awuah- training new leaders

Ray Avery- a social entrepreneur