Dear Colleagues,
Those who are interested in the kinds of projects
that Peter Butenschon discussed in his keynote
speech at Common Ground may want to learn more
about Design Without Borders.
DWB is a program of Norsk Form, the organization
where Prof. Butenshon has been director for the
past decade.
For more information feel free to contact program
manager Aase Kari Haugeto.
Best regards,
Ken Friedman
Design without Borders
Program description
Design without Borders is founded on the belief that design and
designers can make a significant contribution towards a better and
more sustainable society
Design without Borders is a programme initiated and led by Norsk
Form, the Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture.
The programme aims to integrate designersą creative and analytical
skills in development of solutions in developing countries and areas
of emergency.
The programme also aims to create meeting points between problem
owners and professional problem solvers, and to be a catalyst for
cooperation and development of new products and services.
Following two areas of work is defined:
- Relief products supplied in the wake of natural disasters or war,
with special concern on GAP issues
- Products and product systems addressing long term development
issues, with an emphasis on environmental issues and sustainability
Design is Problem Solving
The core of the industrial design profession is a creative and
analytic approach to problem solving. Strong analytical skills and a
multidisciplinary background are much appreciated aspects of
designers in development teams.
Designers work closely with end users, manufacturers and clients from
an early stage in the development process, in order to ensure
ownership and appropriateness of the solutions. We also require our
projects to be based on a local level or on experiences in the field.
A good solution or product is characterised by attention to both
economic and cultural aspects, market and environmental
considerations, yet being functional and easy to manufacture. Design
is the shaping of products and services at the intersection of these
disciplines.
Design without Borders aims for projects where:
- The need for development is identified together with NGOs,
governmental organisations and/ore end-users of the solution
- Design methodology will be an essential part in the development process
- The project is built upon cooperation and partnership between
relevant knowledge and interest-groups
- The project is focused towards the final result and has a
considerable potential to achieve that stage
- Innovation characterize the project ore essential parts in the project
- Ecological and economical sustainability are core-values, expressed
in the project aims
Communicating Design
Norsk Form is a professional center, organized as an NGO. This role
is used to increase awareness and knowledge about the relation
between aid and design, both in the mind of the public and among
design and aid professionals.
Communication is done through regular meetings, seminars and
conferences, as well as targeting of media.
Organisation and Financing
The Design without Borders initiative was started in 2001 as a 2 year
cooperation between Norsk Form and Peter Opsvik A/S.
Norsk Form is responsible for program management and secretary. This
work is financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Peter Opsvik has donated project funds,
and the Design Company Peter Opsvik A/S has made 2 man-work-years
available for the project.
Designers to the different projects will be selected individually by
Norsk Form, ensuring a match between the requirements of each project
to the skills and experience of the designer.
The individual development projects rely on financing from external
sources, such as NORAD, Fredskorpset, NGOs and private donors.
For information contact:
Aase Kari Haugeto
Norsk Form
Kongensgate 4
N-0153 Oslo
Norway
Tlf.: ++47 22 47 74 00
Fax. ++47 22 47 74 19
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Design without Borders Projects
Project:
Humanitarian Demining
The Challenges of Manual Landmine Clearance
Norwegian Peoples Aid has identified manual landmine clearance
following armed conflict as an area with great potential for
improvement. Improving the working situation for a deminer will mean
an improvement in safety and a better adaptation of work tasks and
equipment to the deminer.
Initially Design without Borders has been doing a needs analysis,
including a field study in a minefield currently being cleared by
Norwegian Peoples Aid in Mozambique. Opportunities for local
production, has also been explored.
Now specific product and procedure development projects is to be
proposed. Standardisation of demining tools, improvement of safety
equipment, as well as some changes in working positions or methods
are likely outcomes of this work.
Financing: NORAD (N)
Taskforce: Norwegian Peoples Aid, Norway/ Mozambique together with
designers from Norway
Project:
Tricycle for local production in Zimbabwe
It is a huge need for wheelchairs and tricycles in southern Africa
today. And a lot of the available equipment is imported, and not
adapted to local conditions and the users needs to functionality,
reliability, price and availability of spare parts.
Sintef Unimed has established a local workshop that now aims to
start its own production on wheelchairs and tricycles.
Two design students are now doing conceptual work on a tricycle,
adapted to local needs, local production capacity and available
materials in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Financing: Sintef Unimed (N)
Taskforce: Sintef Unimed and Lorewo workshop together with designers
from Norway
Project:
From Temporary Shelter to Permanent Housing following Disasters in
Central America
Guatemala Red Cross Society has together with The International
Federation for Red Cross / Red Crescent (IFRC) in Central America
shown interest in a shelter concept proposed by Design without
Borders.
Following emergencies and disasters there will often be an immediate
need for shelter for the affected population. Humanitarian
Organisations regularly supply shelter of a provisional character,
such as plastic sheeting and tents. However, people tend to live for
a long time in these makeshift shelters, with shortcomings in
ventilation, heating/isolation, lighting etc., resulting in poor
living conditions.
The project aims to develop a transitional shelter, particularly
aimed at the Central American context, where elements of the
temporary shelter can be utilised in a stage-wise construction of
more permanent and satisfactory home. Families are intended to
undertake most construction themselves with simple tools and
materials, keeping total costs at a bare minimum.
For more information:
http://www.guatemala.cruzroja.org/shelters/
Financing: Fredskorpset (N)
Taskforce: Guatemala Red Cross Society together with a group of one
Norwegian designer and 3 design students form Rafael Landivar
University
Project:
Recycling Guatemala
Solid Waste Management in Almolonga, Guatemala
In Guatemala, as in many other developing countries, solid waste
treatment remains an unsolved problem. The waste is contaminating
both rivers and soil, and is often left lying along roadsides and
river beds.
In the agricultural municipality of Almolonga organic waste is
accounting for more than 80% of total volume. This is recently found
to be an opportunity and a resource, rather than a problem, and
substantial investigations are on their way on maximum utilisation of
both organic and inorganic waste fractions
The project aims to develop sustainable and good local solutions for
collection, separation and recycling of the waste. Hopefully these
will also serve as an example for other municipalities in the region.
For more information:
http://www.ludo.no/guatemala/the_project.htm
Financing: Fredskorpset (N)
Taskforce: Municipality of Almolonga, Guatemala, a group of one
Norwegian designer and 3 design students from Rafael Landivar
University
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