Design Thinking Is Meant For Everybody | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Design Thinking Is Meant For Everybody

Who says only certain people can design?

20
Design Thinking Is Meant For Everybody
Smith College

In late September, I sat awed during the first of the "Speaking of Design" lecture series listening to Zaza Kabayadondo, Smith College's Co-Director of the newly-launched Design Thinking Initiative while she discussed public vans or matatus as they are known in Kenya or kombis as they are named in Zimbabwe, as works of design. I was amazed because these vans that I am very familiar with were used to explain concepts of design. It is not every day that a 'Third World' object is discussed in a positive light!

A matatu is a ten to fourteen seat mini van that is the commonly used transport system in Eastern and Southern Africa. They first emerged around the 1970's public transport was privatized in several nations of the continent. Traffic in cities like Nairobi and Harare is dominated by these vehicles because the majority of people use them. Matatus are usually Nissan models and their actual appearance and use sharply contrast with the manufacturer's clean, crisp intentions. Often, their owners send them to artists and mechanics for physical re-designing while their functions are also tweaked to suit the demographics they serve. Instead of a boring plain color, they are covered with graffiti, pictures, variant colors and powerful music-systems are installed to add even more style or personality to the van. In terms of their usage, they often exceed the manufactures holding capacities and speed recommendations.


Expectation Versus Reality: How the Nissan Caravan is actually used in Kenya or Zimbabwe

Matatus help answer the question that Zaza brought up in her talk, which is, "Who gets to call themselves a designer?" because they challenge the traditional definition of a the person that makes. She argued that while Toyota designed the vans, the local artists and owners are designers too, because they have employed creativity to customize Nissan's original work for specific contexts. Sadly, most people would only acknowledge Nissan as the sole designer. And so I believe that everybody is a designer meaning each person has the potential to design something for themselves or others. Skills aside, its the thought and problem-solving approach which counts.

When it comes to design, people often think that only a chosen few are allowed or able to be "makers". Zaza suggested that the main reason behind this misconception is that a power structure determines who are the credible designers and who are not. Therefore, while an architect, engineer or urban planner is considered a legitimate designer, a tailor or farmer is not seen as one. I think that this disparity spills over into the education and practice of these professions. It becomes then no surprise that certain populations, usually the most oppressed within a community, are often missing from these fields that control design and its definition.

Just as matatus are works of design so is everything else in the world hence creative thinking needs to be encouraged to all people. Zaza defines design thinking as "being able to look at a question analytically, systematically, at the same time picture how the question could be re-framed or turned on its head" something that needs no fancy titles. We each need to be confident that we are capable of making something that either meets needs or solves problems rather than leaving it all to the conventional designers to do the work for us or dictate what we should or should not do.

The relationship between traditional and nontraditional designers should be symbiotic so the users and designers equally contribute rather than parasitic, where the user feeds off the designer or vice versa. Trust me, I do not say this out of spite for designers; I am an architecture student myself!

I believe that the concept of design is so overrated that people stop believing that they can be creative and make something useful, and I find this disheartening. Its very comforting to see that Smith's Design Thinking Initiative pushes back on the flawed dominant understanding that only a chosen few are designers "...with a bold position of questioning who gets to design. This questioning is a call for activism, empowerment, participation, inclusion and critical engagement with the processes that shape our world."

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

181396
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

8305
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

453255
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23766
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments