Of the world s total population of 6.5 billion, 90%, have little or no access to most of the products and services many of us take for granted; in fact, nearly half do not have regular access to food, clean water, or shelter. Design for the Other 90% explores more than thirty projects which reflect the growing movement among designers, engineers, students and professors, architects, and social entrepreneurs to design low-cost solutions for this other 90%. Published in conjunction with a major exhibition on view at the Smithsonian s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Design for the Other 90% highlights a wide variety of design innovations that address the basic challenges of survival and progress faced by the world s poor and marginalized.
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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Design for the Other 90%" was published for the exhibition of the same name at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum at the Smithsonian. More like a review of an exhibition than a definitive text, the book is a nice brief review of some very interesting designs that are useful all over our planet. The book does not seem to be intended to teach you how to build, but rather to inspire you to think about building differently.
The book contains a collection of inventions - most of them quite simple. Examples are a "pot-in-pot" cooler which uses evaporative cooling to keep food from spoiling, a portable water filter for drinking water, a communal solar-powered kitchen, a gravity-powered drip irrigation system, and small-scale photovoltaic lighting. There are many more interesting ideas within these pages.
You won't learn the details of construction from this book, but you will be stimulated to think more broadly about designs that are useful for the majority of humans on our planet.
The book contains a collection of inventions - most of them quite simple. Examples are a "pot-in-pot" cooler which uses evaporative cooling to keep food from spoiling, a portable water filter for drinking water, a communal solar-powered kitchen, a gravity-powered drip irrigation system, and small-scale photovoltaic lighting. There are many more interesting ideas within these pages.
You won't learn the details of construction from this book, but you will be stimulated to think more broadly about designs that are useful for the majority of humans on our planet.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A. E. Hyde
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. While I did not see the original exhibit that inspired the publication of this book by the Copper-Hewitt, the book stands well by itself. The fact that we take so many things for granted makes this book a revelation. I bought 5 copies to give away to architect and engineer friends. I think it will prove revelatory and may inspire them to return their thinking to the most elementary basics of design; elegant and highly practical solutions that work for all of us, not just the needy 90%.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
ALL design and international development students should read this book!
April 23, 2011
Format:Paperback
This amazing book is deceptively simple with breakthroughs on 2 levels:
First, it focuses on designs that address the basic cause of world poverty: INADEQUATE INCOME! Most of the designs featured help the users to generate dramatically higher income. For example, a hand operated drip irrigation system can allow a farmer to create a 10 fold increase in income! This is THE key to sustainable international development. Secondly, the designers focus on the developing world as an economic market, NOT a charitable cause. It's all about designing the right product (to meet the real needs of a local market) at the right cost (ideally with a VERY quick payback,allowing the buyers to increase their income) for a huge market. This is another key to a sustainable international development model. Until we see the developing world as a viable economic force, we will continue to pour in aid that has no leverage.
Buy this book to see some innovative product designs, but even more importantly to gain insights into the design THINKING behind successful products that have a truly positive effect on the lives of those in the developing world.
First, it focuses on designs that address the basic cause of world poverty: INADEQUATE INCOME! Most of the designs featured help the users to generate dramatically higher income. For example, a hand operated drip irrigation system can allow a farmer to create a 10 fold increase in income! This is THE key to sustainable international development. Secondly, the designers focus on the developing world as an economic market, NOT a charitable cause. It's all about designing the right product (to meet the real needs of a local market) at the right cost (ideally with a VERY quick payback,allowing the buyers to increase their income) for a huge market. This is another key to a sustainable international development model. Until we see the developing world as a viable economic force, we will continue to pour in aid that has no leverage.
Buy this book to see some innovative product designs, but even more importantly to gain insights into the design THINKING behind successful products that have a truly positive effect on the lives of those in the developing world.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
It has more the shape of a magazine than a book but the content is pretty good starting for those (like me) looking for simple information about social design. Read more
Published 2 months ago by MariaClara
5.0 out of 5 stars
A should-have
Inspiring and essential, a guide showing what designers (and not only) can do to help the other 90% by using their skills and available technology to solve some serious problems of... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Cyberella
5.0 out of 5 stars
great review of design projects made to HELP people
LOVE this book. it's a perfect gift for an engineer, designer, or artist. And also great for anyone who actually cares about improving the world. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Bob LaBlaw
2.0 out of 5 stars
What a cover image!
Without reading the book I must admit that the cover image has put me off what otherwise would have been an interesting topic. Read more
Published on November 25, 2010 by Santiago
5.0 out of 5 stars
fantastic introduction
Cynthia Smith put together an excellent exhibition by the same name at the Cooper-Hewitt. This book is an excellent companion and great text book for design students and especially... Read more
Published on January 28, 2009 by M. K. Rogal
4.0 out of 5 stars
Purchasing experience
I was already familiar with the catalog, but needed additional copies. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Amazon selling price was even lower than at the venue. Read more
Published on March 24, 2008 by Adrian Ruiz
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book - great idea
Excellent book. Besides many, many good ideas, the concept of Designing for the other 90% of the population is inspiring. Read more
Published on January 20, 2008 by Udar
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