Developed Countries

Design for the Other 90%

Of the world’s total population of 6.5 billion, 5.8 billion people, or 90%, have little or no access to most of the products and services many of us take for granted; in fact, nearly half do not have regular access to food, clean water, or shelter. Design for the Other 90% explores a growing movement among designers to design low-cost solutions for this “other 90%.” Through partnerships both local and global, individuals and organizations are finding unique ways to address the basic challenges of survival and progress faced by the world’s poor and marginalized.

Designers, engineers, students and professors, architects, and social entrepreneurs from all over the globe are devising cost-effective ways to increase access to food and water, energy, education, healthcare, revenue-generating activities, and affordable transportation for those who most need them. And an increasing number of initiatives are providing solutions for underserved populations in developed countries such as the United States.

This movement has its roots in the 1960s and 1970s, when economists and designers looked to find simple, low-cost solutions to combat poverty. More recently, designers are working directly with end users of their products, emphasizing co-creation to respond to their needs. Many of these projects employ market principles for income generation as a way out of poverty. Poor rural farmers become micro-entrepreneurs, while cottage industries emerge in more urban areas. Some designs are patented to control the quality of their important breakthroughs, while others are open source in nature to allow for easier dissemination and adaptation, locally and internationally.

Encompassing a broad set of modern social and economic concerns, these design innovations often support responsible, sustainable economic policy. They help, rather than exploit, poorer economies; minimize environmental impact; increase social inclusion; improve healthcare at all levels; and advance the quality and accessibility of education. These designers’ voices are passionate, and their points of view range widely on how best to address these important issues. Each object on display tells a story, and provides a window through which we can observe this expanding field. Design for the Other 90% demonstrates how design can be a dynamic force in saving and transforming lives, at home and around the world.

Design for the Other 90%: Cooper Hewitt Exhibition |About.

GSD Research Centers: The Mission of the Zofnass Program for Infrastructure Sustainability

Attendees may receive ASLA and AICP professional credits

The Mission of the Zofnass Program for Infrastructure Sustainability at Harvard University Graduate School of Design is to support the development, distribution, and adoption of an independent, third-party benchmark for the sustainability of infrastructure and large-scale projects. This conference marks the release of the alpha version of the Zofnass Rating System, which has been developed in collaboration with the engineering industry and academic experts.

The conference will identify many challenges of sustainability, including the need for infrastructure rehabilitation in developed countries. Through the introduction of the Zofnass Rating System, sustainability metrics will be discussed as well as the branding of sustainability through the adoption of certification and rating systems. Industry experts, along with government officials from major U.S. and international cities, will address the specific challenges of sustainability for infrastructure projects of varying types. Analysis of existing strategies and case studies on sustainable cities will enable us to ask how the planning, design, construction, finance, and operation of infrastructure can contribute to a more sustainable future.

Conference Program

Conference Registration

Free for Current Harvard Community and Public Agency/Government Officials.

$50 Non-Harvard Students & GSD Alumni.

$100 Academic and Non-Profit Employees.

$250 Industry Professionals