Abstract
In South Africa, there is a scarcity of prescription glasses manufacturers and the majority of
locally available eyewear frames are imported. A significant portion of this imported eyewear
comes from a single umbrella organisation, which designs eyewear from a predominantly
Eurocentric perspective. For example, there are currently only two types of eyewear fit, the
“regular” fit, based on European facial data, and the “Asian” or “global” fit, which was
developed in reaction to the inappropriateness of the “regular” fit for this market. In South
Africa, a country with a significantly diverse population, there is an opportunity for properly
fitting eyewear that is often not accommodated by either of these fits. Improper fitment causes
discomfort and leads to blurry vision and long-term vision problems. Fitment is however not
the only problem with the currently imported frames. The South African eyewear industry is a
complex system, with both social and technical challenges that often influence the process of
how someone would go about acquiring prescription glasses.
This paper explores a design research study that was undertaken to address some of the local
eyewear complexities through the design of a product, guided by theories of socio-technical
systems, appropriate technology and human-centred design. The outcome was an adaptable
eyewear frame that could be produced locally, whilst better considering the needs of glasses
wearers in the South African context. Following such a design research approach ensures that
the product outcome is attuned to local needs; such an approach could be beneficial to a wide
range of localized industries in the Global South.