Some of these usage situations cannot be anticipated,
but we do have to understand the life
circumstances and the usage situations in which these
needs are being fulfilled, as we design solutions.
In terms of identifying critical product needs, it's important to
note that there are basic needs and there are aspirational needs.
Sometimes we think that because people are living in subsistence,
all they care about are basic needs. No.
There are a number of aspiration needs
particularly as it relates to the next generation.
It may be about healthy products for children.
It may be about education for children and so on.
People aspire to have a better future for their children.
People aspire for their children to not go through the same hardships that they did.
In terms of designing
products, they need to be culturally sensitive and
they need to be designed for harsh usage circumstances.
In one sense you almost have to user proof the product and assume it will be misused.
It has to be designed assuming that the user is low literate.
It has to be designed to be locally sustainable, which may
mean an entrepreneurial opportunity, a
livelihood opportunity for the local community.
Ideally,
it, it should be designed to serve multiple purposes because of very
scarce resources, and it has to be designed for customization as well.
We talked earlier in the course about how
people constantly ask for a customized product in
a one-on-one world, so there has to be
a way to design the product for customization.