Strategic objective

The Design Institute utilised the Interdesign to illustrate the concept that good design is a major contributory factor in offering solutions to various problems that face developing communities.

Project objectives

• To have feasible concepts for products generated with possibilities of further development into products.
• To have the concepts developed into sustainable products, businesses, and job opportunities
• To establish opportunities for multidisciplinary outcomes in an environment where illiteracy and multilingualism is a factor
• To strengthen the Network of Africa Designers (NAD) by involving and encouraging participation in the Interdesign from as many representatives from Africa as possible.
• To align the project with the objectives of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) which include poverty alleviation and job creation

Meaningful strategic actions:

• Tapping into existing rural transport projects with existing project plans, to assure that acknowledged rural transport challenges are addressed.
• Including the development of the design concepts into actual products to the existing project plans.
• Involving local design students as well as skills-based designers with the intent to build local design capacity on different levels

The issue of rural transport was approached with a view to:

• Social aspects (such as individual and community problems, needs, desires)
• Transport management aspects (including standards, regulatory issues, licensing)
• Sustainability: enhanced quality of life, possibilities for business opportunities and job creation)
• Environmental aspects (for example animal care, local materials, indigenous knowledge, recycling)