Digital designing for good

Over the last year, our Nepal team has participated in the Humanitarian Design Challenge (HDC). The Challenge was initiated to increase participants' knowledge and practical experiences with digital manufacturing, 3D design and rapid prototyping for makers, innovators, engineers and user groups in Nepal. 

Like Field Ready, the Challenge kept its focus on designing and making items when and where people need them. All the designs and prototypes addressed health, agricultural and manufacturing needs.

Enthusiastic response

Interest in the Challenge’s initial phase was strong and enthusiastic; in three two-week sessions held between June and December 2019, 559 people participated in the Nepal HDC. Of those participants, 482 were men and 77 were women.

In the first phase, participants gathered at 11 workshops in nine locations across Nepal. The series of workshops in Biratnagar, Butwal, Chitwan, Dhangadi, Dharan, Dhulikhel, Lalitpur, Nepalgunj and Pokhara welcomed participants to exchange ideas and explore development of needed items that could be digitally designed and made to solve local problems.

The second part of the Challenge was the Design Sprint, a three-day session which took place over two weeks in February. Twenty participants – this time with 14 women and six men – broke into four interdisciplinary teams at three Nepali workshops for the Sprint. Each team received 20,000 NPR (the equivalent of about $170 USD) to fund their health-related designs and prototypes. 

On the first day of the Sprint, participants were introduced to the HCD and learned about digital fabrication and open-source platforms. The second day they conducted data analysis and synthesis for their designs. 

On the Sprint’s third day, participants were able to present their designs, prototypes, processes and what they’d learned to a team of evaluators for feedback.

Innovative independence

Each design was carefully thought-out and produced with precision and great attention to detail to meet the needs of intended users. All the items in the Sprint were designed to help physically challenged people gain or retain independent movement. 

One team came up with a cup holder for those who have difficulty using a cup or glass, while another made a sock assist to help those with limited mobility put on their socks (pictured left). For people who have motor challenges, a third team designed a kalam or writing tool to assist with independent drawing or writing and a fourth team devised a rowing mechanism that helps a user independently move his or her wheelchair.

The HDC was a fascinating and rewarding journey that helped expand the horizon of possibilities for participants, evaluators and observers while bolstering Field Ready’s mission. We look forward to many more amazing idea exchanges.