Abstract
The importance of socially responsible design and
participatory methods for solving problems in developing nations is
unquestionable, however there is debate about the level of follow
through and impact achieved by such design research projects. Too
often social design seems to end at the solution, with the
implementation falling short. Designers have therefore begun to
focus on strategies like design for outcomes that lead to verifiable
impact. In this paper, we elaborate on this with literature and a case
study of a project, which aims to support emergent farmers and the
sustainability of beekeeping in South Africa, through the
participatory development and implementation of an appropriate
technology system. Demonstrating that a design research project
that defines success in terms of outcomes requires scaled
implementation to verify impact on peoples’ capabilities. We
present this paper as it relates to the Cumulus Conference’s Theme 1
- What do we wish to REDO?