PhD in Design for Social Wellbeing

[Edan Weis]

Hello,

I am a PhD student from the University of Melbourne, currently researching
design practice which aims to contribute to poverty alleviation and economic
development in poor nations, or "Design for Social Wellbeing". (sometimes
called design for social impact, design for development, design activism, etc..)

I am focusing on the normative aspects of "design thinking"; such as an
individual's underlying ideological, institutional or theoretical
dispositions which influence product or service development within DSW
organizations.

I have begun looking for organizations who may be interested in
participating in my case study.  If anybody is aware of organizations
working in any of these three capacities (particularly in Sth/Central
America), or could advise or refer me to them, I would be extremely grateful...

1) Commercial product/service development for low-income markets through
social enterprise

2) Technical assistance and capacity building with local artisans or
micro-enterprises

3) Product, service and infrastructure development assistance for
communities and organizations.

Also, I have found the literature and theoretical background of DSW to be
fragmented and underdeveloped. In an attempt to contribute and open it
further, I have uploaded my research proposal online, for anyone interested:

http://www.xime.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Work_in_Progress

I welcome any comments or advice...

Thanks everybody!!


Regards,

Edan Weis

PhD Student,
Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
The University of Melbourne

[Prabhu Kandachar - IO]

Dear Edan Weis,

We have carried out quiet a few design projects for/at developing
countries. A part of our effort is available at:
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/bop where you can download also the book:
Designing for Emerging Markets, which gives a brief overview of many of
these projects.

They fall under your category of (1): Commercial product/service
development for low-income markets, although not with social
enterprises, as we are experimenting with regular business enterprises
and NGO's, with the so called Base of the Pyramid (BoP) strategy,
introduced by Prahalad and Hart (2002).
 
Some empirical background for BoP can be found at:

Prahalad, C.K. and Hart, S., 2002. The fortune at the bottom of the
pyramid. Strategy+Business, issue 26: 1-15.
Prahalad, C.K., 2005. The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid:
Eradicating Poverty Through Profits. Wharton School Publishing. ISBN-10:
0-13-187729-1, ISBN-13: 978-0-13-187729-0, Pages: 304.
Prabhu Kandachar et.al. (Ed), Design of Products and Services for the
Base of the Pyramid, Oct. 2007, Delft University of Technology, ISBN
978-90-5155-034-4. http://www.io.tudelft.nl/bop 

Prabhu Kandachar and Minna Halme, Introduction: An Exploratory Journey
towards the Research and Practice of the Base-of-the-Pyramid, Special
issue of "Greener Management International (GMI)", edited by Prabhu
Kandachar, June 2007, ISSN 0966-9671.
http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/ 

Prabhu Kandachar and Minna Halme (Ed)., Sustainability Challenges and
Solutions at the Base of the Pyramid: Business, Technology and the Poor,
2008, ISBN 978-1-906093-11-2 http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/ 

Prabhu Kandachar and Minna Halme, Farewell to pyramids: how can business
and technology help to eradicate poverty? in Sustainability Challenges
and Solutions at the Base of the Pyramid: Business, Technology and the
Poor, Prabhu Kandachar and Minna Halme (Ed)., 2008, ISBN
978-1-906093-11-2 http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/ 

P.V. Kandachar, Integrated Product Development - Discovering, defining,
designing and delivering products & services for the Emerging Markets, A
chapter to be published in the forthcoming book: Creating Mutual Value:
Building Businesses and Alleviating Poverty with the Base of the
Pyramid, Eds.: Ted London & Stuart Hart. Publisher: Wharton, USA. In
2010 http://bop2009.org/

You could also consider participating in: http://www.bopimpact.nl/

With kind regards,
 
Prabhu Kandachar, PhD

Professor- Industrial Design Engineering,

Chairman, Design Engineering Department
Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering
Delft University of Technology
Landbergstraat 15
2628 CE DELFT
The Netherlands

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
p.v.kandachar@...
www.io.tudelft.nl


-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and
related research in Design [mailto:PHD-DESIGN@...] On Behalf
Of Edan Weis
Sent: donderdag 5 november 2009 8:25
To: PHD-DESIGN@...
Subject: PhD in Design for Social Wellbeing

Hello,

I am a PhD student from the University of Melbourne, currently
researching design practice which aims to contribute to poverty
alleviation and economic development in poor nations, or "Design for
Social Wellbeing". (sometimes called design for social impact, design
for development, design activism, etc..)

I am focusing on the normative aspects of "design thinking"; such as an
individual's underlying ideological, institutional or theoretical
dispositions which influence product or service development within DSW
organizations.

I have begun looking for organizations who may be interested in
participating in my case study.  If anybody is aware of organizations
working in any of these three capacities (particularly in Sth/Central
America), or could advise or refer me to them, I would be extremely
grateful...

1) Commercial product/service development for low-income markets through
social enterprise

2) Technical assistance and capacity building with local artisans or
micro-enterprises

3) Product, service and infrastructure development assistance for
communities and organizations.

Also, I have found the literature and theoretical background of DSW to
be fragmented and underdeveloped. In an attempt to contribute and open
it further, I have uploaded my research proposal online, for anyone
interested:

http://www.xime.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Work_in_Progress

I welcome any comments or advice...

Thanks everybody!!


Regards,

Edan Weis

PhD Student,
Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
The University of Melbourne

[Gavin Melles]

Hello
I'm sure I speak for many on this list when I say that the delft bop work is exemplary
-----Original Message-----
From: Prabhu Kandachar - IO <P.V.Kandachar@...>
To:  <PHD-DESIGN@...>
To: IO, Prabhu Kandachar - <P.V.Kandachar@...>

Sent: 5/11/2009 8:48:32 PM
Subject: Re: PhD in Design for Social Wellbeing

Dear Edan Weis,

We have carried out quiet a few design projects for/at developing
countries. A part of our effort is available at:
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/bop where you can download also the book:
Designing for Emerging Markets, which gives a brief overview of many of
these projects.

They fall under your category of (1): Commercial product/service
development for low-income markets, although not with social
enterprises, as we are experimenting with regular business enterprises
and NGO's, with the so called Base of the Pyramid (BoP) strategy,
introduced by Prahalad and Hart (2002).
 
Some empirical background for BoP can be found at:

Prahalad, C.K. and Hart, S., 2002. The fortune at the bottom of the
pyramid. Strategy+Business, issue 26: 1-15.
Prahalad, C.K., 2005. The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid:
Eradicating Poverty Through Profits. Wharton School Publishing. ISBN-10:
0-13-187729-1, ISBN-13: 978-0-13-187729-0, Pages: 304.
Prabhu Kandachar et.al. (Ed), Design of Products and Services for the
Base of the Pyramid, Oct. 2007, Delft University of Technology, ISBN
978-90-5155-034-4. http://www.io.tudelft.nl/bop 

Prabhu Kandachar and Minna Halme, Introduction: An Exploratory Journey
towards the Research and Practice of the Base-of-the-Pyramid, Special
issue of "Greener Management International (GMI)", edited by Prabhu
Kandachar, June 2007, ISSN 0966-9671.
http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/ 

Prabhu Kandachar and Minna Halme (Ed)., Sustainability Challenges and
Solutions at the Base of the Pyramid: Business, Technology and the Poor,
2008, ISBN 978-1-906093-11-2 http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/ 

Prabhu Kandachar and Minna Halme, Farewell to pyramids: how can business
and technology help to eradicate poverty? in Sustainability Challenges
and Solutions at the Base of the Pyramid: Business, Technology and the
Poor, Prabhu Kandachar and Minna Halme (Ed)., 2008, ISBN
978-1-906093-11-2 http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/ 

P.V. Kandachar, Integrated Product Development - Discovering, defining,
designing and delivering products & services for the Emerging Markets, A
chapter to be published in the forthcoming book: Creating Mutual Value:
Building Businesses and Alleviating Poverty with the Base of the
Pyramid, Eds.: Ted London & Stuart Hart. Publisher: Wharton, USA. In
2010 http://bop2009.org/

You could also consider participating in: http://www.bopimpact.nl/

With kind regards,
 
Prabhu Kandachar, PhD

Professor- Industrial Design Engineering,

Chairman, Design Engineering Department
Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering
Delft University of Technology
Landbergstraat 15
2628 CE DELFT
The Netherlands

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
p.v.kandachar@...
www.io.tudelft.nl


-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and
related research in Design [mailto:PHD-DESIGN@...] On Behalf
Of Edan Weis
Sent: donderdag 5 november 2009 8:25
To: PHD-DESIGN@...
Subject: PhD in Design for Social Wellbeing

Hello,

I am a PhD student from the University of Melbourne, currently
researching design practice which aims to contribute to poverty
alleviation and economic development in poor nations, or "Design for
Social Wellbeing". (sometimes called design for social impact, design
for development, design activism, etc..)

I am focusing on the normative aspects of "design thinking"; such as an
individual's underlying ideological, institutional or theoretical
dispositions which influence product or service development within DSW
organizations.

I have begun looking for organizations who may be interested in
participating in my case study.  If anybody is aware of organizations
working in any of these three capacities (particularly in Sth/Central
America), or could advise or refer me to them, I would be extremely
grateful...

1) Commercial product/service development for low-income markets through
social enterprise

2) Technical assistance and capacity building with local artisans or
micro-enterprises

3) Product, service and infrastructure development assistance for
communities and organizations.

Also, I have found the literature and theoretical background of DSW to
be fragmented and underdeveloped. In an attempt to contribute and open
it further, I have uploaded my research proposal online, for anyone
interested:

http://www.xime.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Work_in_Progress

I welcome any comments or advice...

Thanks everybody!!


Regards,

Edan Weis

PhD Student,
Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
The University of Melbourne

[alf bae]

Hi,

I think you may be interested in Federal Art Project which was a program to
support artist during Great depression of US. You may find many artist names
who were supported and actually their jobs were focused on social/public
issues.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Art_Project (start from here).
I think it can be early exemplary project and works for your topic.

Alf Bae
PhD. student Hongik univ. IDAS.





On Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 7:04 PM, Gavin Melles
<GMelles@...>wrote:

> Hello
> I'm sure I speak for many on this list when I say that the delft bop work
> is exemplary
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Prabhu Kandachar - IO <P.V.Kandachar@...>
> To:  <PHD-DESIGN@...>
>   To: IO, Prabhu Kandachar - <P.V.Kandachar@...>
>
> Sent: 5/11/2009 8:48:32 PM
> Subject: Re: PhD in Design for Social Wellbeing
>
> Dear Edan Weis,
>
> We have carried out quiet a few design projects for/at developing
> countries. A part of our effort is available at:
> http://www.io.tudelft.nl/bop where you can download also the book:
> Designing for Emerging Markets, which gives a brief overview of many of
> these projects.
>
> They fall under your category of (1): Commercial product/service
> development for low-income markets, although not with social
> enterprises, as we are experimenting with regular business enterprises
> and NGO's, with the so called Base of the Pyramid (BoP) strategy,
> introduced by Prahalad and Hart (2002).
>
> Some empirical background for BoP can be found at:
>
> Prahalad, C.K. and Hart, S., 2002. The fortune at the bottom of the
> pyramid. Strategy+Business, issue 26: 1-15.
> Prahalad, C.K., 2005. The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid:
> Eradicating Poverty Through Profits. Wharton School Publishing. ISBN-10:
> 0-13-187729-1, ISBN-13: 978-0-13-187729-0, Pages: 304.
> Prabhu Kandachar et.al. (Ed), Design of Products and Services for the
> Base of the Pyramid, Oct. 2007, Delft University of Technology, ISBN
> 978-90-5155-034-4. http://www.io.tudelft.nl/bop
>
> Prabhu Kandachar and Minna Halme, Introduction: An Exploratory Journey
> towards the Research and Practice of the Base-of-the-Pyramid, Special
> issue of "Greener Management International (GMI)", edited by Prabhu
> Kandachar, June 2007, ISSN 0966-9671.
> http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/
>
> Prabhu Kandachar and Minna Halme (Ed)., Sustainability Challenges and
> Solutions at the Base of the Pyramid: Business, Technology and the Poor,
> 2008, ISBN 978-1-906093-11-2 http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/
>
> Prabhu Kandachar and Minna Halme, Farewell to pyramids: how can business
> and technology help to eradicate poverty? in Sustainability Challenges
> and Solutions at the Base of the Pyramid: Business, Technology and the
> Poor, Prabhu Kandachar and Minna Halme (Ed)., 2008, ISBN
> 978-1-906093-11-2 http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/
>
> P.V. Kandachar, Integrated Product Development - Discovering, defining,
> designing and delivering products & services for the Emerging Markets, A
> chapter to be published in the forthcoming book: Creating Mutual Value:
> Building Businesses and Alleviating Poverty with the Base of the
> Pyramid, Eds.: Ted London & Stuart Hart. Publisher: Wharton, USA. In
> 2010 http://bop2009.org/
>
> You could also consider participating in: http://www.bopimpact.nl/
>
> With kind regards,
>
> Prabhu Kandachar, PhD
>
> Professor- Industrial Design Engineering,
>
> Chairman, Design Engineering Department
> Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering
> Delft University of Technology
> Landbergstraat 15
> 2628 CE DELFT
> The Netherlands
>
> Tel: [phone]
> Fax: [phone]
> p.v.kandachar@...
> www.io.tudelft.nl
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and
> related research in Design [mailto:PHD-DESIGN@...] On Behalf
> Of Edan Weis
> Sent: donderdag 5 november 2009 8:25
> To: PHD-DESIGN@...
> Subject: PhD in Design for Social Wellbeing
>
> Hello,
>
> I am a PhD student from the University of Melbourne, currently
> researching design practice which aims to contribute to poverty
> alleviation and economic development in poor nations, or "Design for
> Social Wellbeing". (sometimes called design for social impact, design
> for development, design activism, etc..)
>
> I am focusing on the normative aspects of "design thinking"; such as an
> individual's underlying ideological, institutional or theoretical
> dispositions which influence product or service development within DSW
> organizations.
>
> I have begun looking for organizations who may be interested in
> participating in my case study.  If anybody is aware of organizations
> working in any of these three capacities (particularly in Sth/Central
> America), or could advise or refer me to them, I would be extremely
> grateful...
>
> 1) Commercial product/service development for low-income markets through
> social enterprise
>
> 2) Technical assistance and capacity building with local artisans or
> micro-enterprises
>
> 3) Product, service and infrastructure development assistance for
> communities and organizations.
>
> Also, I have found the literature and theoretical background of DSW to
> be fragmented and underdeveloped. In an attempt to contribute and open
> it further, I have uploaded my research proposal online, for anyone
> interested:
>
> http://www.xime.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Work_in_Progress
>
> I welcome any comments or advice...
>
> Thanks everybody!!
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Edan Weis
>
> PhD Student,
> Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
> The University of Melbourne
>

[Schiffer, Anne]

Have a look at the following books:

"Design Like you Give a Damn". You'll find lot's of contacts in that.

"Design for the other 90%" which the accompanying catalogue for an exhibition that took place
a few years ago at the Cooper Hewitt in New York

I also just picked up a book called "Design Revolution" by Emily Pilloton but haven't looked at it yet.

and check out the 'practical action' website.


-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design on behalf of Edan Weis
Sent: Thu 05/11/2009 07:25
To: PHD-DESIGN@...
Subject: PhD in Design for Social Wellbeing
 
Hello,

I am a PhD student from the University of Melbourne, currently researching
design practice which aims to contribute to poverty alleviation and economic
development in poor nations, or "Design for Social Wellbeing". (sometimes
called design for social impact, design for development, design activism, etc..)

I am focusing on the normative aspects of "design thinking"; such as an
individual's underlying ideological, institutional or theoretical
dispositions which influence product or service development within DSW
organizations.

I have begun looking for organizations who may be interested in
participating in my case study.  If anybody is aware of organizations
working in any of these three capacities (particularly in Sth/Central
America), or could advise or refer me to them, I would be extremely grateful...

1) Commercial product/service development for low-income markets through
social enterprise

2) Technical assistance and capacity building with local artisans or
micro-enterprises

3) Product, service and infrastructure development assistance for
communities and organizations.

Also, I have found the literature and theoretical background of DSW to be
fragmented and underdeveloped. In an attempt to contribute and open it
further, I have uploaded my research proposal online, for anyone interested:

http://www.xime.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Work_in_Progress

I welcome any comments or advice...

Thanks everybody!!


Regards,

Edan Weis

PhD Student,
Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
The University of Melbourne



To view the terms under which this email is distributed, please go to http://disclaimer.leedsmet.ac.uk/email.htm

[Cigdem Kaya]

Hello Edan,

I am also doing somewhat similar phd work co-supervised by Ozlem Er  
and Chris Rust. I am based in Istanbul which is also my research  
field. I study home crafts practitioners.

I did not read your entire proposal but I have read enough to share my  
thoughts.
I could not grasp the ideological stance of the text and I am very  
interested in being able to.
Your first sentence is: "This study investigates industrial design  
practice which aims to contribute to poverty alleviation and economic
development in poor nations."
I can't ask wondering why you define poverty by nationality. There is  
not one "rich" country that does not face poverty, that does not have  
slums or immigrants. I cant help saying that in every third world  
there is a first world and in every first world there is a third world.
What then defines poor nations as poor?
If you read Bonsiepe's and Er's work closely they talk about locating  
the designer to facilitate growth from within but not to import it in  
a top to down manner in the developing world (Newly Developing  
Countries), not "poor nations".
Also Arthuro Escobar writes very nicely about how we take granted what  
development is. Maybe the most backwards nation is the most developed  
in means of something else but not money. That is why the  
understanding of development seems shortsighted in the  
developmentalism discourse as we know it. Escobar writes about how the  
world was split into first and third not more than app. 70 years ago  
due to political reasons.

Also, these issues have been studied in India since late 60s. Check  
out Amul Coop. and the Jawaja Project. M.P. Ranjan has tons of  
information about this on his blog. Again I cant help asking this: if  
one talks about "activism" why not a coop but still a traditional  
corporate system?

Also, check out work by Otto Von Busch, Coopa Roca, Swati Argade and  
Escama Studio.

I do believe that social involvement does need some stance- preferably  
guerrilla :)- because there is a thin line between breaking free and  
feeding it back and making the poor poorer in the long run.

I d like to keep exchanging ideas about this.

Best,
Cigdem

--
Researcher
Department of Industrial Product Design
Istanbul Technical University
Taskisla, Istanbul 34437, Turkey

t. 0212 2931310 x 2824
f. 0212 2514895
w. www.tasarim.itu.edu.tr



Alinti Edan Weis <eweis@...>

> Hello,
>
> I am a PhD student from the University of Melbourne, currently researching
> design practice which aims to contribute to poverty alleviation and economic
> development in poor nations, or "Design for Social Wellbeing". (sometimes
> called design for social impact, design for development, design  
> activism, etc..)
>
> I am focusing on the normative aspects of "design thinking"; such as an
> individual's underlying ideological, institutional or theoretical
> dispositions which influence product or service development within DSW
> organizations.
>
> I have begun looking for organizations who may be interested in
> participating in my case study.  If anybody is aware of organizations
> working in any of these three capacities (particularly in Sth/Central
> America), or could advise or refer me to them, I would be extremely  
> grateful...
>
> 1) Commercial product/service development for low-income markets through
> social enterprise
>
> 2) Technical assistance and capacity building with local artisans or
> micro-enterprises
>
> 3) Product, service and infrastructure development assistance for
> communities and organizations.
>
> Also, I have found the literature and theoretical background of DSW to be
> fragmented and underdeveloped. In an attempt to contribute and open it
> further, I have uploaded my research proposal online, for anyone interested:
>
> http://www.xime.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Work_in_Progress
>
> I welcome any comments or advice...
>
> Thanks everybody!!
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Edan Weis
>
> PhD Student,
> Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
> The University of Melbourne
>
>

[Terence Love-2]

Dear Eden,

It's probably important to be aware of the huge amount of disastrous design
activity in the development arena.

Most of this has been undertaken by well-meaning designers not realizing
their primary focus  was to make money,  increase their status or make
themselves feel good at the expense of others - always difficult issues when
coming from a privileged society and working with the less privileged.

There is a substantial literature 60s to 90s. A starting reference point for
thinking some concepts  is Illich (especially Tools for Conviviality,
Deschooling Society, Medical Nemesis, Energy and Equity). "Greening of
Africa" by Harrison also is useful as are Friere's analyses.

Best wishes and good luck,
Terry


-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related
research in Design on behalf of Edan Weis
Sent: Thu 05/11/2009 07:25
To: PHD-DESIGN@...
Subject: PhD in Design for Social Wellbeing
 
Hello,

I am a PhD student from the University of Melbourne, currently researching
design practice which aims to contribute to poverty alleviation and economic
development in poor nations, or "Design for Social Wellbeing". (sometimes
called design for social impact, design for development, design activism,
etc..)

I am focusing on the normative aspects of "design thinking"; such as an
individual's underlying ideological, institutional or theoretical
dispositions which influence product or service development within DSW
organizations.

I have begun looking for organizations who may be interested in
participating in my case study.  If anybody is aware of organizations
working in any of these three capacities (particularly in Sth/Central
America), or could advise or refer me to them, I would be extremely
grateful...

1) Commercial product/service development for low-income markets through
social enterprise

2) Technical assistance and capacity building with local artisans or
micro-enterprises

3) Product, service and infrastructure development assistance for
communities and organizations.

Also, I have found the literature and theoretical background of DSW to be
fragmented and underdeveloped. In an attempt to contribute and open it
further, I have uploaded my research proposal online, for anyone interested:


http://www.xime.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Work_in_Progress

I welcome any comments or advice...

Thanks everybody!!


Regards,

Edan Weis

PhD Student,
Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
The University of Melbourne



To view the terms under which this email is distributed, please go to
http://disclaimer.leedsmet.ac.uk/email.htm

[Klaus Krippendorff]

folks,

i just received a link to several lectures last week by george soros: www.ft.com/soroslectures. in the lectures on reflexivity he details what it means to cope with truly overwhelming complexity. reserve an hour for listening. don't be put off by his focus on economic issues, which should interest everyone anyhow.   national decision makers do have a design problem to find economic measures that could stabilize a global economy.

klaus  

-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design [mailto:PHD-DESIGN@...] On Behalf Of Terence Love
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 6:31 PM
To: PHD-DESIGN@...
Subject: Re: PhD in Design for Social Wellbeing

Dear Eden,

It's probably important to be aware of the huge amount of disastrous design
activity in the development arena.

Most of this has been undertaken by well-meaning designers not realizing
their primary focus  was to make money,  increase their status or make
themselves feel good at the expense of others - always difficult issues when
coming from a privileged society and working with the less privileged.

There is a substantial literature 60s to 90s. A starting reference point for
thinking some concepts  is Illich (especially Tools for Conviviality,
Deschooling Society, Medical Nemesis, Energy and Equity). "Greening of
Africa" by Harrison also is useful as are Friere's analyses.

Best wishes and good luck,
Terry


-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related
research in Design on behalf of Edan Weis
Sent: Thu 05/11/2009 07:25
To: PHD-DESIGN@...
Subject: PhD in Design for Social Wellbeing
 
Hello,

I am a PhD student from the University of Melbourne, currently researching
design practice which aims to contribute to poverty alleviation and economic
development in poor nations, or "Design for Social Wellbeing". (sometimes
called design for social impact, design for development, design activism,
etc..)

I am focusing on the normative aspects of "design thinking"; such as an
individual's underlying ideological, institutional or theoretical
dispositions which influence product or service development within DSW
organizations.

I have begun looking for organizations who may be interested in
participating in my case study.  If anybody is aware of organizations
working in any of these three capacities (particularly in Sth/Central
America), or could advise or refer me to them, I would be extremely
grateful...

1) Commercial product/service development for low-income markets through
social enterprise

2) Technical assistance and capacity building with local artisans or
micro-enterprises

3) Product, service and infrastructure development assistance for
communities and organizations.

Also, I have found the literature and theoretical background of DSW to be
fragmented and underdeveloped. In an attempt to contribute and open it
further, I have uploaded my research proposal online, for anyone interested:


http://www.xime.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Work_in_Progress

I welcome any comments or advice...

Thanks everybody!!


Regards,

Edan Weis

PhD Student,
Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
The University of Melbourne



To view the terms under which this email is distributed, please go to
http://disclaimer.leedsmet.ac.uk/email.htm

[Edan Weis]

Thank you to all those who have replied so far, your help is much appreciated!

Prabhu Kandachar,

Thank you for providing those references, perhaps I should consider regular
business enterprises within a separate or wider category. I am also
interested in learning more about the role of multinational companies such
as PHILIPS in their “philanthropy by design”. I will endeavour to read your
books.

Cigdem,

Thank you for your feedback, and the references you sent me, they are helpful.

After reading your thoughts on poverty, it seems we do indeed share a
similar ‘ideological stance’! I have certainly been influenced by Escobar’s
writing on development and other critical essays in Sachs, W 1992, The
Development dictionary : a guide to knowledge as power. Also, the topic of
post-development also intriguing - Ziai, A 2007, Exploring post-development
: theory and practice, problems and perspectives

If you are looking to grasp the ideological stance expressed through my
research proposal, you may be left searching—In my thesis, I am interested
in ideology insofar as it effects design thinking. The ideological,
apolitical and de-political tendencies within DSW practice—particularly
within design thinking—are rarely discussed in this field of research. My
approach to ideological matters in design practice (what I call normative
design thinking), is to negotiate them through the act of design thinking
itself, not to place exogenous discourse (economic development,
technological innovation, etc..) as premises upon which we begin designing.
For these reasons, I do not convey my ideological stance directly, as the
focal point of my investigation. Of course implicitly, I do make some
assertions regarding poverty, development, etc.. which I’ll try to clarify.

Regarding the first sentence of my proposal, “This study investigates
industrial design practice which aims to contribute to poverty alleviation
and economic development in poor nations.” Here I am making no attempt to
define poverty in any way. Therefore, I take your question to mean- why I
have chosen to associate poverty with the concept of “nation” rather than
some other term, to describe the focus of poverty alleviation and economic
development.

For the very reason that within all nation-states (often countries) there is
some level of poverty among marginalized populations (like those you
mention- immigrants, slum populations) and others who live comparatively
better lives—whether perceived in their own absolute terms or from a
relative perspective—there should also be recognition of “nations”, those
who are marginalized and who do not identify themselves as state citizens or
do not posses a territorial border such as indigenous people defined through
culture, ethnicity or religion (the fourth world). Such nations are
scattered throughout many countries.

What then defines poor nations as poor?  Perhaps the same criteria which is
used to define individual people as poor; One normative view is for this to
be “self-defined”, or constructed through desired capabilities which are
achieved through certain functionings (Amartya Sen, capabilities approach).
Communities of people and larger “nations” often share a common language,
culture, religion, history etc... which go some way in defining their own
level of “poverty” in multi-dimensional terms; deprivations, misfortunes,
asceticism, etc..  So my use of “poor nations” avoids unwanted connotations
of development/underdevelopment/developing – but still collectively
describes a people for which the aims of poverty alleviation and economic
development can be generalized, though not only towards nation-states
(developing countries) which precludes other nationalities.

Indeed, I agree with Escobar and others who point to the Eurocentric notion
and criteria for “development” (a separate complex discussion in
itself)—wherein the levels of depression, alienation, stress, insecurity,
violence, suicide prevalent in developed countries are hardly reflected in
those countries judged in need of “development”.

Cigdem, I’m not so clear on what you mean by a coop, but still a traditional
corporate system.. but happy to hear more..

[Cigdem Kaya]

I used coop as the short version of "cooperative" (Sorry just habit).  
Cooperatives like Amul where all makers and producers own the business  
altogther.Its is a very old system....as an alternative of salary  
based corporations.

Thanks for your email.
Cigdem

Research Assistant
Department of Industrial Product Design
Istanbul Technical University
Taskisla, Istanbul 34437, Turkey

t. 0212 2931310 x 2824
f. 0212 2514895
w. www.tasarim.itu.edu.tr



Alinti Edan Weis <eweis@...>

> Thank you to all those who have replied so far, your help is much  
> appreciated!
>
> Prabhu Kandachar,
>
> Thank you for providing those references, perhaps I should consider regular
> business enterprises within a separate or wider category. I am also
> interested in learning more about the role of multinational companies such
> as PHILIPS in their “philanthropy by design”. I will endeavour to read your
> books.
>
> Cigdem,
>
> Thank you for your feedback, and the references you sent me, they  
> are helpful.
>
> After reading your thoughts on poverty, it seems we do indeed share a
> similar ‘ideological stance’! I have certainly been influenced by Escobar’s
> writing on development and other critical essays in Sachs, W 1992, The
> Development dictionary : a guide to knowledge as power. Also, the topic of
> post-development also intriguing - Ziai, A 2007, Exploring post-development
> : theory and practice, problems and perspectives
>
> If you are looking to grasp the ideological stance expressed through my
> research proposal, you may be left searching—In my thesis, I am interested
> in ideology insofar as it effects design thinking. The ideological,
> apolitical and de-political tendencies within DSW practice—particularly
> within design thinking—are rarely discussed in this field of research. My
> approach to ideological matters in design practice (what I call normative
> design thinking), is to negotiate them through the act of design thinking
> itself, not to place exogenous discourse (economic development,
> technological innovation, etc..) as premises upon which we begin designing.
> For these reasons, I do not convey my ideological stance directly, as the
> focal point of my investigation. Of course implicitly, I do make some
> assertions regarding poverty, development, etc.. which I’ll try to clarify.
>
> Regarding the first sentence of my proposal, “This study investigates
> industrial design practice which aims to contribute to poverty alleviation
> and economic development in poor nations.” Here I am making no attempt to
> define poverty in any way. Therefore, I take your question to mean- why I
> have chosen to associate poverty with the concept of “nation” rather than
> some other term, to describe the focus of poverty alleviation and economic
> development.
>
> For the very reason that within all nation-states (often countries) there is
> some level of poverty among marginalized populations (like those you
> mention- immigrants, slum populations) and others who live comparatively
> better lives—whether perceived in their own absolute terms or from a
> relative perspective—there should also be recognition of “nations”, those
> who are marginalized and who do not identify themselves as state citizens or
> do not posses a territorial border such as indigenous people defined through
> culture, ethnicity or religion (the fourth world). Such nations are
> scattered throughout many countries.
>
> What then defines poor nations as poor?  Perhaps the same criteria which is
> used to define individual people as poor; One normative view is for this to
> be “self-defined”, or constructed through desired capabilities which are
> achieved through certain functionings (Amartya Sen, capabilities approach).
> Communities of people and larger “nations” often share a common language,
> culture, religion, history etc... which go some way in defining their own
> level of “poverty” in multi-dimensional terms; deprivations, misfortunes,
> asceticism, etc..  So my use of “poor nations” avoids unwanted connotations
> of development/underdevelopment/developing – but still collectively
> describes a people for which the aims of poverty alleviation and economic
> development can be generalized, though not only towards nation-states
> (developing countries) which precludes other nationalities.
>
> Indeed, I agree with Escobar and others who point to the Eurocentric notion
> and criteria for “development” (a separate complex discussion in
> itself)—wherein the levels of depression, alienation, stress, insecurity,
> violence, suicide prevalent in developed countries are hardly reflected in
> those countries judged in need of “development”.
>
> Cigdem, I’m not so clear on what you mean by a coop, but still a traditional
> corporate system.. but happy to hear more..
>
>
>
>

--
Research Assistant
Department of Industrial Product Design
Istanbul Technical University
Taskisla, Istanbul 34437, Turkey

t. 0212 2931310 x 2824
f. 0212 2514895
w. www.tasarim.itu.edu.tr

[Birger Sevaldson]

Here is another interesting lecture:
May be we should stop talking of the third world. This is at least what Hans Rosling suggests in his talk here:
http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_at_state.html

Maybe stopping to look at the world in simplifications and clichés is the first step to cope with complexity.

Best
Birger

-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design [mailto:PHD-DESIGN@...] On Behalf Of Klaus Krippendorff
Sent: 6. november 2009 02:49
To: PHD-DESIGN@...
Subject: design in the face of overwhelming complexity.

folks,

i just received a link to several lectures last week by george soros: www.ft.com/soroslectures. in the lectures on reflexivity he details what it means to cope with truly overwhelming complexity. reserve an hour for listening. don't be put off by his focus on economic issues, which should interest everyone anyhow.   national decision makers do have a design problem to find economic measures that could stabilize a global economy.

klaus

-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design [mailto:PHD-DESIGN@...] On Behalf Of Terence Love
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 6:31 PM
To: PHD-DESIGN@...
Subject: Re: PhD in Design for Social Wellbeing

Dear Eden,

It's probably important to be aware of the huge amount of disastrous design
activity in the development arena.

Most of this has been undertaken by well-meaning designers not realizing
their primary focus  was to make money,  increase their status or make
themselves feel good at the expense of others - always difficult issues when
coming from a privileged society and working with the less privileged.

There is a substantial literature 60s to 90s. A starting reference point for
thinking some concepts  is Illich (especially Tools for Conviviality,
Deschooling Society, Medical Nemesis, Energy and Equity). "Greening of
Africa" by Harrison also is useful as are Friere's analyses.

Best wishes and good luck,
Terry


-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related
research in Design on behalf of Edan Weis
Sent: Thu 05/11/2009 07:25
To: PHD-DESIGN@...
Subject: PhD in Design for Social Wellbeing

Hello,

I am a PhD student from the University of Melbourne, currently researching
design practice which aims to contribute to poverty alleviation and economic
development in poor nations, or "Design for Social Wellbeing". (sometimes
called design for social impact, design for development, design activism,
etc..)

I am focusing on the normative aspects of "design thinking"; such as an
individual's underlying ideological, institutional or theoretical
dispositions which influence product or service development within DSW
organizations.

I have begun looking for organizations who may be interested in
participating in my case study.  If anybody is aware of organizations
working in any of these three capacities (particularly in Sth/Central
America), or could advise or refer me to them, I would be extremely
grateful...

1) Commercial product/service development for low-income markets through
social enterprise

2) Technical assistance and capacity building with local artisans or
micro-enterprises

3) Product, service and infrastructure development assistance for
communities and organizations.

Also, I have found the literature and theoretical background of DSW to be
fragmented and underdeveloped. In an attempt to contribute and open it
further, I have uploaded my research proposal online, for anyone interested:


http://www.xime.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Work_in_Progress

I welcome any comments or advice...

Thanks everybody!!


Regards,

Edan Weis

PhD Student,
Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
The University of Melbourne



To view the terms under which this email is distributed, please go to
http://disclaimer.leedsmet.ac.uk/email.htm

[A.B.Thorpe]

Hello Edan et al,
A few more ideas for you...

if you haven't already you might look into the "base of the pyramid" (BOP) literature concerning commercial product/service development for low-income markets -- some of this concerns social enterprise and some not so explicitly.

As you may already know, IDEO has taken a big role in this kind of work, See for example this Fast Company overview
http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/alissa-walker/designerati/human-centered-design-toolkit-shares-information

It's funded largely by the Rockefeller foundation which has this area of design/social innovation/well being in one of its programs, though its work has not gone without criticism.

You can download IDEO's report, "Design for Social IMpact" for Rockefeller here
http://osocio.org/message/design_for_social_impact/

for tech assistance and capacity, there are a few more interesting groups, again you may already have come across them: Aid to Artisans, Ten Thousand Villages, and the North South project. You might also consider some of the emerging labeling systems (eg Rugmark, fairtrade) and related rights organizations (human rights watch) not only for their capacity building, but perhaps for some theoretical underpinnings. I've written about some of these issues and have links to these groups here
http://designactivism.net/archives/101

Design that Matters and Architecture for Humanity also cover the assistance and capacity territory, find links to these org.s in a post I wrote here:
http://designactivism.net/archives/43

Another avenue you probably shouldn't overlook is university/academic design assistance. Although this arguably is more common in architecture, the approach of getting students to work on projects for communities in need under supervision from the faculty, is becoming more common. In any case I come across a fair number of these projects done by architects who end up designing what we might call "products." Rural Studio is probably the best known but there are many others.

For social enterprise I think you'll end up having to consider how to adapt broader economic theories to design. Last year I covered social innovation/enterprise topics with my students using a short article by Marjorie Kelly “Not Just for Profit,” in Strategy + Business, Spring 2009 (you can get this article online but have to register with the site). Beyond that there is a growing literature and a few large foundations/centers that work on social enterprise as you probably already know (Acumen, Skoll, Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Young Foundation) and these have produced a lot of reports etc. on the wider topic, not necessarily touching upon design explicitly.

In my own research I've turned up a number of cases where designers work with various communities in need and would be happy to discuss further off line searching through my archive for the types of cases you're interested in as your research progresses.

Best,
Ann

Ann Thorpe
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dept of Design, Development, Environment & Materials
Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, United Kingdom

Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London
Wates House, 22 Gordon Street London WC1H 0QB, United Kingdom

ann@...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
book: The Designer's Atlas of Sustainability (www.designers-atlas.net)
& blog: http://designactivism.net
discussion list: Sustainable Design Teaching SUSDESIGNTEACH@...
twitter: @atlasann


by the way, why are you in a dept of


The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302).

[Fabrizio Ceschin]

Hello,



I am a PhD candidate from Politecnico di Milano University, dealing with the
issue of Product-Service System (PSS) design and sustainability.

I am currently focusing on understanding how different design and
implementation strategies influence the degree of success of a sustainable
Product-Service System (PSS).

I would like to ask the members of this list if anyone knows case studies
describing/analysing the processes adopted to design and implement
sustainable PSSs.

Thanks everybody!



Best Regards,



Fabrizio Ceschin



Politecnico di Milano

INDACO Department

Design and system Innovation for Sustainability (DIS) unit of research

via Durando 38/a

20158 Milan, Italy

tel/fax [phone]

[Dag Holmgren]

Hi Fabrizio!
Try this link:
http://tepuidesign.com/contact
Andalso try to contact Alastair Fuad-Luke.
Look also into the link: www.deedsproject.org

Regards
Dag H.
15 nov 2009 kl. 19.50 skrev Fabrizio Ceschin:

> Hello,
>
>
>
> I am a PhD candidate from Politecnico di Milano University, dealing  
> with the issue of Product-Service System (PSS) design and  
> sustainability.
>
> I am currently focusing on understanding how different design and  
> implementation strategies influence the degree of success of a  
> sustainable Product-Service System (PSS).
>
> I would like to ask the members of this list if anyone knows case  
> studies describing/analysing the processes adopted to design and  
> implement sustainable PSSs.
>
> Thanks everybody!
>
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
>
>
> Fabrizio Ceschin
>
>
>
> Politecnico di Milano
>
> INDACO Department
>
> Design and system Innovation for Sustainability (DIS) unit of research
>
> via Durando 38/a
>
> 20158 Milan, Italy
>
> tel/fax [phone]

Dag Holmgren Designer MSD
Professor

Industrial Design
Dep. for Mechanical Engineering
School of Engineering
Post Box 1026,
SE-551 11 Jönköping
Sweden
Phone: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
e-mail: dag.holmgren@...
www.jth.hj.se