Valorising local materials and processes through DiY practices for human-centered water and hygiene product development 

Using local resources and making practices for DIY-Material making + empowering locals to create and repair their own water related product-systems

Research Questions 

1. What are the determinants driving and hindering the appreciation and acceptance of (recycle) materials in Deltas?
2. What are the dynamics of the society to be taken in the account in the development and implementation of DIY material practices for locally produced products?
3. What are the experiential qualities (e.g. sensorial qualities of materials, meanings they evoke, emotions they elicit, etc.) of potential local materials (e.g. recycled plastics from local waste, composites made of local agricultural waste, local fibres, etc.) to be utilised in embodiment of designed products for Deltas?
4. How can design enable mapping the ‘functional’ requirements of the technology proposed and ‘hedonic' needs of people in Deltas in mobilising 'existing local materials’?

Methodology

1. Development of ‘a taxonomy of user interaction qualities’ (i.e. needs, habits, values, and tacit knowledge concerning daily used products particularly for water treatment) of the potential vulnerable end-users (through gender oriented user studies with cultural probes, context mapping; co-design; participatory approach; MCP)
2. Technical (e.g. lightweight, impact and UV resistance, etc.) and experiential (e.g. aesthetically pleasing, pleasant to interact on a daily basis, etc.) characterization of potential local materials
3. Development of a framework for local material and production valorization, by taking into account users’ knowledge, thoughts, values, daily practices, etc. as well as the dynamics of social life, and possible stakeholders in such projects.
4. Co-creation of a DiY Lab in Bangladesh, with an initial focus on: (a) DIY pipe materials, (b) smart taps to cope with inconsistent water supply, (c) hygiene promoters, and (d) add-ons to facilitate communication with MCP apps.

TEAM

Design Researcher: Federico Trevia

Leaders: Elvin Karana and Jan Carel Diehl

Co-Advisor: Annemarie Mink