Do design interventions always have positive impacts upon the social system?
Posted on November 29, 2017Do you think design interventions always have positive impacts upon the social system?
Of course, all designers intend their projects to have positive impacts and there is actually a lot of evidence that there are good impacts.
Positive impacts of design intervention
For example, many companies think that design has positive impacts upon their business. The chart (Chart A) represents the questionnaire responses by Japanese companies about recognition of design impact.1 The Japanese government did the study in 2007. According to the chart, 76% of enterprises responded that design has a positive impact on quality and brand power improving. In addition, more than half of companies responded that design is effective in terms of communication and sales etc., so many companies value the positive impacts of design intervention.
[Chart A]
For instance, The Hippo Water Roller, one of the famous product in Africa, makes it extremely easy to collect water in tough rural conditions – up to 5 times more water than a single bucket, by simply rolling it along the ground. In Africa, many women and children carry water with a small bucket and walk a long distance and it is a burden to their body or to do their housework. However, the Hippo Water Roller has changed the situation. A Total of 51,000 Hippo Rollers are spread to over 20 countries, and people have carried about 16 billion tons of water. The Hippo Water Rollers improve people’s health and hygiene, and create more time for education and household. This project has great positive impacts on the lives of the residents in Africa.2
Negative impacts of design intervention
On the other hand, some people disagree that design can have a positive impact. Bruce Nussbaum, who is a famous designer, argues that there could be unpredicted negative impact upon social system3. One Laptop Per Child Project is one of the example. This project provides each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power laptop with Internet connectivity so that children are engaged in their own education, and can learn, share, and create together. However, according to Nussbaum, this project ultimately failed, because some governments in developing countries worried that it may cut out the job of policymakers and teachers, and the government have refused to accept the project. In other words, it was perceived as imperialism by the developed countries. Thus, he insists that design intervention could have unpredicted negative impacts upon the social system.
I think if we can understand almost whole social systems, we will be able to avoid unpredicted impact, so trying to understand the whole system is important. How do we understand the whole social system? William Easterly, the author of “The White Man’s Burden”4, argues that “Only trying to develop by themselves in developing countries can end poverty” and “As the poor know how aid is useful for the poor, we proceed with aid with reference to feedback from the people in developing countries”.
In addition, Emily Pilloton, the member of Hippo Water Roller project, argues that “Designers who give a damn are easily drawn to the ‘poverty porn’ of the slums of Mumbai or Africa, before walking around the block and into a homeless shelter in San Francisco.” and “For all of us who consider ourselves part of the ‘design world,’ the issue is not of geography, but one of commitment.”5
In conclusion, in order to understand the whole social system, it is necessary for the local people to take initiative. If one tries to understands whole systems and carefully design the project, it is possible to reduce the negative impacts of design intervention.
Great efforts to design the projects
The WASSHA project aims to provides a whole new experience for people in off-grid areas with affordable, accessible and safe electricity through local kiosks. It also provides charging service using clean energy and lends devices to start-up businesses.
The project members deeply understand the necessity for the local people to take initiative and carefully design the project. Therefore, it has recruited many local employee as responsible positions like General manager and Administration Manager. Moreover, it has made win-win relationship with local kiosks. They carefully have designed the whole system of the business, and now it is accepted by about 150,000 people in Africa.
Thanks to this project, people are now able to use LEDs and home appliances, and it has brought many positive impacts. (Chart B) For instance, the LED lights have extended learning time to 2.5 hours per day, and reduced the health damaged caused by fire lamps. There are also big impacts on Kiosk business in Africa. It has increase sales, $245 per month, and increased the number of employment, 1540 to 2,550 people per years.6 Thus, this project is designed to have a positive impact on many stakeholders.
[Chart B]
“Improvement of user productivity and reduction of cost”
| Topic | Target | Impact |
| Extension of business hours | Business users | 3.5 hours / Day |
| Increase in sales | Business users | 20 to 30 USD / Day |
| Extension of learning hours | Family users | 2.5 hours / Day |
| Reduction of utility cost | Family users | 1.5 to 2 USD/ Day |
“The impacts of replacement of kerosene lamp to LED lamp on health problems”
| Topic | Target | Impact |
| Reduction of odor | Family users | It had an effect |
| Reduction of eye pain | Family users | It had an effect |
| Reduction of throat inflammation | Family users | It had an effect |
| Reduction of headache | Family users | It had an effect |
“Increase in income of kiosk owner by introducing WASSHA”
| Topic | Target | Impact |
| Increase in Sales | Kiosk owners | 245 USD / Month |
| Reduction of costs | Kiosk owners | 195 USD / Month |
| Increase in profit | Kiosk owners | 50 USD / Month |
“Developing new industries and employments”
| Topic | Target | Impact |
| Number of launching new service | Business users | 5100 |
| Number of new employees | Business users | 1540 to 2550 |
In conclusion, it is difficult to avoid negative impacts upon complex social system, but if we carefully plan the design intervention taking into consideration various stakeholders, it is POSSIBLE to have great positive impacts and reduce negative impacts upon the social system.
References
1. Research on measurement of design impacts (2007), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan
3. Bruce Nussubaum, Is Humanitarian Design the New Imperialism?, CO.DESIGN
4. William Easterly, The White Man’s Burden: Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good (Penguin Books; 2007)
5. Emily Pilloton, Are Humanitarian Designers Imperialists? Project H Responds, CO.DESING
6. The final report of WASSHA project (2015), Japan International Cooperation Agency