OpenIDEO - OpenIDEO Team Notes - Designing in Low-Income Communities

Field Notes

Inspiring content from across OpenIDEO & IDEO's other work.

Jun 29th 2011
Designing in Low-Income Communities

Image from IDEO work with VisionSpring in India

As designers, we need to find the balance between pragmatism and optimism. We need to constantly think about what is possible and what is realistic. Just because something hasn’t worked before, doesn’t mean it couldn’t work now. At that same time, the constraints faced by social businesses working in low-income communities are severe and must not be ignored.

Here's a few things to consider as we work together to propose concepts for this OpenIDEO challenge:

Reduce up-front capital costs

Access to finance is a major hurdle for social businesses and capital costs should be reduced whenever possible. How can we pilot test businesses with as few resources as possible? How can we start small and design business and service models that can quickly scale?

Offer various price points

Some of the best examples of innovations in health services are related to the provision of cross-subsidised services. Organizations like Aravind Eye Hospitals are able to charge those who can pay for upgraded rooms and add-on services, while those who can’t are able to seek care for free. How might we tier offerings to customers to ensure social and financial sustainability?

Technology is limited

While affordable smart phones and tablets are on the way, they are not yet commonplace. Technology-based solutions should function with basic mobile phones. What can be done to connect people using simpler technology?

Labor-heavy solutions are acceptable

In places like Caldas, the cost of labor is much less expensive than it is in let’s say, San Francisco. Social businesses that are able to employ large numbers of people have added social value. How can we give people jobs to collect data, visit patients at home, share health-related information, etc.?

Don’t forget about the people

In order to build a social business, one must have customers. And to get those customers, we must design experiences that are attractive and desirable for them. How can we ensure that we are designing healthcare options that will be attract demand and recommendations?

Thank you all for your great contributions to this challenge. We’re excited about the potential impact for Caldas and beyond of your Inspirations and Concepts.

– Jocelyn Wyatt.

Jocelyn is the Executive Director and Co-Lead of IDEO.org, the nonprofit organisation started by IDEO to address poverty-related challenges through design and to encourage the use of our human-centered approach to innovation in the social sector. Previously, Jocelyn led and expanded IDEO’s Social Innovation practice.

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Sergio Olavarrieta

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July 13, 2011, 12:14AM

Jocelyn, you're so right: transference could be the key. I was reading your note I began to think that one possible clue is creating a tangent business, where money is involved for the ones who seek/need it, and help is brought to the ones that needs it (like people in Caldas).

Like you said, we live in a world that goes everytime for the economics, but we designers must find a way to create social business in the interim of the spinning of the world.

I began thinking a few years ago that if you look all the mind-labour out of schools, which don't want money (or at least not so evident), societies could enjoy more progress. I see what happens here in Mexico and I see there's a big spend in every school project, but it always remains as "excercises"... so I began to think "what if you took that creativity of students and turn into a big change for the low-incomed?". First, student will create that demanded experience that jobs seeks... then students willbe more sensible of people in need.

I definitely will spend the next years working this idea out, so it's nice from now on trying to consolidate it with people like you that has a great expertise in the social field.

Thanks for your note. Feel free to feedback and work out with me a big change in the world :)

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Field Notes

Inspiring content from across OpenIDEO & IDEO's other work.

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Jun 29th 2011
Designing in Low-Income Communities

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Sergio Olavarrieta

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Jun 29th 2011 Designing in Low-Income Communities

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Sergio Olavarrieta

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Jun 29th 2011
Designing in Low-Income Communities