Emily Pilloton, the founder of Project H Design, which focuses on humanitarian design, took the stage at Autodesk University this morning. She revealed that their first project the Hippo Roller, a means to easily transport water in Africa, was a failure because it was too far removed from the local context.
After re-tooling, the organization with a mandate to design for humanity, habitats, health and happiness, has come up with the following five guiding principles.
- Design through action
- Design with, not for
- Design systems, not stuff
- Document, share and measure
- Start locally, share globally
Their next effort has been a focus on teaching design in a high school setting in Bertie County, North Carolina. The effort to create a shop program to bring design and creativity into the lives of a failing school focuses on Emily’s passion for the power of design to make a difference in people’s lives. What a great way to start the morning!
