I always have a problem with social design challenges like this. Outsiders always have some notion that they're more capable of coming up with solutions for the

I always have a problem with social design challenges like this. Outsiders always have some notion that they're more capable of coming up with solutions for these "problems" than the people who actively live with them. It typically ends up being over-engineered or flawed due to ignoring some cultural reasons for the status quo. Working as a designer at social enterprise dedicated to water purification in India clued me into one particular case of this over engineering. A well-known design firm did a month-long visit at my company to design a new carrying method for the water cans that people used to transport filtered water back to their homes or businesses. They did many of these same "studies" and prototypes and came up with this plastic clip to hook a 20 liter jerry can to the side of a bike or motorcycle. They distributed them to customers, took some pictures and left. Within a month most were lost, broken, or found too difficult to use. In the end what was the solution that people ended up using? A simple piece of sheet metal bent into an s-curve and hooked over the sides of the bike frame. Cheap, simple, and easy to manufacture. It was designed and made by a customer of the company, by himself. You don't need a college education and a design background to come up with the correct solution; most people know what they need, and they will go out and make it happen. These shoulder poles are a perfect example of Jugaad solutions, an innovative fix or work-around. It might just not be as sexy as one you'll find in a design studio or classroom. This op-ed from NY Times about a $300 house design contest from a few years back does a similar job articulating the point, too. It's worth a read: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/01/opinion/01srivastava.html http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/01/opinion/01srivastava.html