July 03, 2003
Welcome to the DtM Field Journal
In summer 2003, Design that Matters and four members of the MIT Kinkajou design team conducted an extensive field study in Mali and Benin. The objectives of this study were to broaden our network of collaborators among local communities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), test a prototype educational tool developed by the student team, share information on existing DtM design innovations, collect data for new DtM design challenges, and generally experience life in sub-Saharan West Africa.
This journal is an account of our experience. Listed below are some of our favorite entries. You can read the complete story in the journal archives, which are listed in the right-hand column.
The Field Journal category archives are organized as follows:
Book Recommendations: books that we felt gave us insights into West African culture, and contributed to our understanding of international development.
Design Challenge: these are open design challenges--unsolved problems faced by underserved communities that were either identified or further explored during the field study.
Design Resource: notes taken during the field study that help to describe conditions in West Africa, and generally provide useful information for development-related design projects.
DtM Partner Org: these community groups and NGOs help Design that Matters to identify appropriate design challenges, and they take the lead in testing and implementing DtM innovations.
Journal Entry: our personal observations on the trip.
Kinkajou Design Review: notes from the many design reviews conducted during the field study.
Light Up the World: notes from our various field tests of the LUTW solid-state lamps.
