The Power of Design for Good
By working in partnership with The Autonomous Collective, we are able to provide seasoned design experience to those in need, leveraging years of industry expertise to create unique solutions to approachable problems. Collective Humanitarian works with missionaries, personal contacts, and other NGOs to identify opportunities for improvement in the areas these organizations operate. We only choose projects that come from contacts with deep personal connections to local people in order to create solutions that meet their direct needs, are locally sustainable, and will have the most impact for our investment. The last thing we want to do is identify a perceived problem from afar and make a US-based product that cannot be made or maintained locally. When someone in the developing world says, “someone should make a…” Collective Humanitarian wants to be that someone.
Our Process
Assess
The first step is a thorough assessment of the situation and copious amounts of documentation. We consider aspects of culture, knowledge, skills, technologies, and local industry before any opportunities are identified. Working closely with those embedded in the area gives us a head start on research - someone living in an area is much better equipped to diagnose problems compared to an occasional visitor.
Address
Once the team has identified problems or needs, we start to define and describe them in terms of product design. This is a creative brainstorming process that produces many possible concepts, some more feasible than others. The concepts that are determined to be the most possible can then be evaluated based on cost, manufacturing technologies, positive impact, and importance.
advance
After the highest rated concept is selected, the real design work begins. We generate multiple versions of the product, test them thoroughly, and gather feedback from our local contacts. Throughout this process, special care is taken to ensure that not only will the product solve a problem but that it can be manufactured using available technologies at a reasonable cost. Our aim is not to manufacture and ship in products.
apply
When the team is satisfied with the solution, one of our members travels to the subject location with example products, if possible. Everything necessary for production is included: specifications, assembly instructions, images for proper use, bill of materials. Previously having identified someone with an entrepreneurial spirit, we work with them to create a streamlined production process, business plan, and sales strategy before providing a small amount of seed funds. We want to give enough for a limited production run while being good stewards of our donors’ money. Ultimately, the end goal is to create a new small business that is self-sustaining and creating a product that makes lives better.
We are always looking for new sponsors! 100% of any donation is used to fund these projects; none of it goes to paychecks. Please get in touch to learn about how you can make these projects a reality and what you can expect from being a sponsor.
Current Projects
African Farming Implements
Many areas of rural Sub-Saharan Africa still practice traditional farming techniques. While effective, there are some issues, especially in cultures where the majority of the cultivation is done by women. We are using first hand experience, on-site photo and video capture, user interviews, and a deep sense of cultural understanding to achieve our goals: Improved ergonomics, increased efficacy, and reduced working time.
Reduce stress on the back
Cultivate easier and faster
Multifunctional features
Locally manufacturable
Provide women with more time at home
Jamaica Small Business Initiative
Working with multiple international organizations like Live Global and Jamaica Link Ministries, we are assisting with a Montego Bay business accelerator pilot and exploring multiple small business opportunities. True change and progress comes from within; we desire to come alongside Jamaican nationals who have the drive and desire to create to help them build. With success comes admiration, with admiration imitation, with imitation a movement. And a movement of sustainable self-supporting small businesses can lift an entire community out of poverty.
Jamaica business accelerator pilot
Modular vending cart
3D printed mechanical pump
Low voltage power generation
Billions of people do not have access to reliable electricity. This means that their activities are dictated by the rising and setting of the sun or by carcinogenic combustion. Simply having a few more hours of reliable light has been shown to dramatically increase the quality of life for the world’s rural poor. With the continual development of low cost USB powered lights, we are creating inexpensive options to passively charge batteries which can be used to power lights, cell phones, or other low power devices. Hundreds of millions of people have access to moving water: ocean, river, or irrigation; by exploiting this continual movement, they can store energy during the day and discharge it at night.
Open water turbine generator
Wave + air powered mechanism
In-line irrigation pipe powered light
