SCAD Sustainability Council presents “[Un]disciplined,” a series of lectures, discussions and workshops that take a multi-disciplinary approach to sustainability, Jan. 26-29. All events take place at River Club, 3 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Savannah. All events are free and open to the public.

- Amit Bapat

I’d like to share with you, the topic for my thesis that I have been working on for the past 2 years now. I am currently looking for sponsors to fund my research trip to Uganda, so if any body knows anyone who is interested, please feel free to contact me at amit.s.bapat@gmail.com.

Thesis Abstract
This ongoing MFA research project is being conducted in collaboration with a Non Government Organization (NGO), Hope to One life in Uganda. The Bio-sand filter (BSF) is a primitive and inexpensive form of water filtration that uses beneficial bacteria and sand to remove contaminants from water. The filter has been in use for twenty years and is innovative in its functionality and technology. However, the bio-sand filter fails to address issues of ergonomics and usability.

More importantly, its diffusion into the African community has reached a saturation point that is well below its potential. It is the purpose of this study to reveal the limitations in the design of the filter unit toward the end of creating a redesign that fosters a new production and service model. This model would increase the potential for diffusion of this important invention throughout non-developed countries.

This thesis project is very different from the other projects that SCAD usually teams up either with the industry or with the local community. Also, it is first of its kind to tackle a ‘real world crisis’ at an international location, dealing with an unusual target market. Usually designers and design in general are used at the end to make things pretty or attractive. This project emphasizes- why designers should be at the forefront of the design process and not at the end. Also, good design can be used to bring down the cost of innovation and make it affordable for the poorest of poor people in the world. Ultimately, good design can embody a combination of social, economic and environmental capital.

The Bio Sand Filter (BSF) is one of among thousands of products which have a potential of not only improving these poor people’s condition of living but also transforming into a tool of empowerment. Furthermore, this diffusion of innovation does not rely on the product itself but also in the system in which it is placed in. Here we see Non Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) playing a vital role in bringing true empowerment to these people. The existing model of NGO’s is flawed and for all these years, they have been in fact creating a greater dependency on the western world. Part of the problem lies with this broken system and necessitates a change along with the redesign of the product.

Designing for the other 90%
Of the world’s total population of 6.5 billion, 5.8 billion people, or 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. Designing for the other 90% explores a growing movement among designers to design low-cost solutions for this “other 90%.” This concept is further popularized by C.K. Prahalad in his book, The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid. Their huge volumes and aggregate spending power is substantial to bring in a cultural change in the way traditional products and services operate. For more info:Desinging for the other 90%

The Approach

The goal is to decentralize the current NGO model from a star to galaxy pattern where participants are interconnected through a network of users, change agent and the local providers and manufacturers, businesses and entrepreneurs. This will not only ensure that entrepreneurship and innovation are driven to a grass root level but more importantly give a sense of ownership and pride amongst locals which is imperative to thus attain true empowerment of the Ugandan community.

In order to do so, the NGO must transform itself and involve the local population in the co-creation of products and services. The NGO must shift from the current manufacturing and distribution level to the innovation/ diffusion management level.
Furthermore, this transformation will take place with the NGO redesigning its organization and operations to be more in line with for-profit business models.

Other Components
Some other important areas of this thesis revolve around:
1. Entire product lifestyle: What happens when a BSF is broken. Where does it end up? Is there a way to bring back a broken filter back to the manufacturer and create a new one thus achieving a partial closed loop system?

2. Awareness Campaigns: Effective awareness campaigns will educate the locals about the importance of clean drinking water. For e.g cleanliness is not only limited to the Bio-sand Filter but also to sanitized storage containers and clean environments in which the filters are placed in.

3.Brand Identity: Brands such as these not only give an option to the people but also become a tool of empowerment. Effective Advertising and communication in
conjunction with the new service model, will maximize user participation as well as attract patrons and volunteers to support the system.

From a Design Management standpoint, this project also emphasizes the vital role of ‘facilitators of collaboration’ in any design project which give the required push to keep the ball rolling over obstacles. In this case, Dean of Graduate studies, Edward Dupuy has relentlessly been working to involve the upper management of SCAD and multiple graduate departments for this project. We soon shall have a graphic design team working on the branding of the NGO. On the Industrial Design side, Professors like Robert Fee have had the vision to extend this as a class project where 6 more graduate students along with Bob and myself are currently working on the redesigning of the filter and mold. It is rare in any institution, to have such a strong support of faculty in student projects which definitely brings such projects one step closer to realization.

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Amit Bapat is an Industrial Designer+Design Manager, exploring the combination of social, economic and environmental capital with good design. His well balanced perspective in Industrial Design results from a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. He is currently pursuing his MFA in Industrial Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA. He previously earned a BE in Electronic and Telecommunications from India.