DESIGN INSPIRED INNOVATION FOR RURAL INDIA
Year: 2011
Editor: Culley, S.J.; Hicks, B.J.; McAloone, T.C.; Howard, T.J. & Reich, Y.
Author: Ekman, Sten; Ekman, Annalill; Salunkhe, Uday; Agarwal, Anuja
Series: ICED
Section: Design Theory and Research Methodology
Page(s): 120-129
Abstract
The need for reducing poverty and to develop the standard of living in rural areas around the world is enormous. Ideas for new approaches have to be implemented. Design thinking and methods combined with innovation in practice and management – as Design Inspired Innovation – could be such a concept to provide for rural people to empower themselves and improve their living conditions. The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss an initiative in India started between Swedish and Indian researchers, students and a network of other organizations. The initiative is based on a combi-nation of appropriate design research methodology, ethnographic design research and innovation science and management. Some experiences from initial empirical studies show that master students gathering data in the field, analyzing and interpreting the data together with researchers can get new insights and rich knowledge of the opportunities of improvements, innovation and entrepreneurship that exists at the ´bottom of the pyramid´.
Keywords: RURAL VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT; MANAGEMENT EDUCATION; DESIGN THINKING; DESIGN INSPIRED INNOVATION