2017-2019 | Nula Reusable Menstrual Pad

Nula is a reusable menstrual pad that was designed for South African women. Pia Findlay began the design research project as a BA Industrial Design student in 2017 and then extended the project into an MA Design (in Industrial Design) from 2018-2020. During both these projects I was her main supervisor, and during the Master's Despina Christofordiou, from Lund University  (Sweden), joined as the co-supervisor bringing with her expertise in behavioural design. Overview: The aim of this design research project was to develop a method of encouraging the acceptance of Nula, a new reusable menstrual pad in South Africa. The project initially explored the complexity of trying to introduce a radical innovation and taboo product into the South African market. What makes radical innovations problematic is that they fall outside the frame of reference of potential product users, and therefore often do not reach their full potential when initially introduced. ... Read More

2015-2017 | Beegin Beehive

This project by Ivan Brown focused on the design of an improved beehive to support local urban agriculture and was the final project of Ivan's BTech (BA Hons) in Industrial Design in 2015. From 2016-2017, the project expanded into an MTech (Master's) in Industrial Design where Ivan expanded the hive into an appropriate technology system for emergent beekeepers. The resultant beekeeping system was refined through field-testing and development towards its implementation and led to Ivan graduating his Masters' degree Cum Laude.  I supervised both projects, with Dr Naudé Malan from the UJ Department of Development Studies co-supervising the Masters. The successful commercialisation of Beegin has become a model for the UJ Department of Industrial Design to help other students see the value of design research to scale ideas developed in their Hons year, into a Master’s, and then into an enterprise. Overview: The importance of socially responsible design and participatory ... Read More

2014 | Take Root Seedling Growing System

Take Root was the outcome of a design research project focused on developing a seedling growing system for small-scale urban farmers in Soweto. It was the final project in a BTech Industrial Design by Jomari Budricks in 2014. I was Jomari's main supervisor, with Dr. Naudé Malan from the Department of Development Studies as a co-supervisor. The project formed part of an interdisciplinary student service-learning course offered in 2014 in the Departments of Development Studies and Industrial Design. The course utilised a methodology that integrated participatory social science and human-centered design research methods in order to develop technologies to improve the productivity of marginalized and resource-poor urban farmers. Teams of students worked with farmers on three urban sites, each with their own specific technological needs. Overview: This project focused on the design of seedling growing system for small-scale urban farming. The design and research was based on the problem that ... Read More

2014 | Umlimi Urban Off-grid Food Storage System

This project consisted of the participatory design of an off-grid food storage system for small-scale urban farmers within the Soweto community by Natalia Tofas  for her BTech Industrial Design in 2014. I was the main supervisor for the project together with Dr. Naudé Malan from the Department of Development Studies as co-supervisor. The project formed part of an interdisciplinary student service-learning course offered in 2014 in the Departments of Development Studies and Industrial Design. The course utilised a methodology that integrated participatory social science and human-centered design research methods in order to develop technologies to improve the productivity of marginalized and resource-poor urban farmers. Teams of students worked with farmers on three urban sites, each with their own specific technological needs. Overview: The focus of this project was the design of an off-grid food storage system for small-scale urban farmers in Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa. Central to the study, are ... Read More

2013-2014 | Global Innoversity for Metro Food / Metro Ag

The Global Innoversity for Metro Food / Metro Ag was conceived as an innovation accelerator created by Innovation Coalitions from the world’s metropolitan regions. The Global Innoversity and its member coalitions supported the development and mutual sharing of innovations in food, agriculture and integrated resource systems. The project's long‐term goal was to significantly and measurably enhance the capacity of the world’s metropolitan regions to meet current and emerging food, agriculture and resource needs in new, sustainable and resilient ways. The seven regions in the founding group were Detroit, Johannesburg, Nairobi, the Netherlands, Hyderabad, Singapore, and Sao Paulo. Other regions were planned to be added once the concept was proven. Project Partners: Michigan State University: Chris Geith - Executive Director, MSUglobal Sander Mager - Acting Director, Global Innoversity Greta McKinney - MSU Product Center Prof. Christopher Peterson - Acting Director Global Innoversity Steve Pueppke - Associate VP for Research & Graduate ... Read More

2011-2014 | Single Household Farming Kit

This ambitious MTech Industrial Design project by Kyle Brand focused on the design and development of a single household farming kit. The project was supervised by myself with Dr. Naudé Malan, Department of Development Studies, as the co-superviser. The project was inspired by Kyle’s BTech: Industrial Design (Honours) final project, the Seboko tunnel. Overview: One of the greatest social problems we face as society as a whole and South Africa in particular, is food insecurity. Food insecurity manifests itself in many forms and has a dramatic impact on the wellbeing of people. People need food to survive, but often the food systems they rely on are vulnerable to price shocks and changes, which in turn diminishes their resilience. Local food systems are crucial in reducing vulnerability and improving food security. But often the tools used are not appropriate, especially for household farming. In this study design is used to bring about considered ... Read More