Resource-Limited Societies, Integrated Design Solutions, and Stakeholder Input

Poverty is a multidimensional issue, characterized by deprivations and constraints at the individual, institutional, economic, and technological level. To satisfy the unmet or underserved needs of people living in poverty, the relevant constraints in the target context must be addressed via integrated design solutions. Although previous studies in this field show that designing integrated solutions requires input from multiple stakeholders, there is a lack of relevant research examining the nature of this input. To address this, using a case study methodology, we analyzed three design projects that have successfully responded to the pertinent constraints within each context by supporting social and human development among its marginalized populations. Based on our findings, we designed a stakeholder input framework categorizing a diverse range of stakeholder perspectives—both inside and outside the context of poverty—that can contribute towards integrated solutions design. The findings and resulting stakeholder input framework can help designers gain a deeper appreciation of the constraints faced by marginalized societies, and how design input from various stakeholders can be mobilized to overcome these constraints and create value for resource-poor people.open access