:: Specific Design Brief

Practical 6: Carrying Equipment

PRODUCT DESIGN – TEXTILES KENYA

GENERIC DESIGN CONTEXT
All over the world, people have to carry a wide variety of equipment or goods to carry out their jobs – the tools of their trade. Investigate the problem of carrying equipment. Design and make a sustainable method of carrying equipment or goods for the person or occupation of your choice.

SPECIFIC DESIGN BRIEF
In some areas of Kenya, many veterinary problems are dealt with by paravets (similar to paramedics). Currently they travel by bicycle, carrying their equipment in plastic sacks pushed into rucksacks. Design and make a textile portable equipment carrier for a Kenyan paravet.

CLIENT DETAILS
Paul Mande is a paravet in Mtoti Andei, Kenya. He was trained for his work by an international charity, Practical Action. Although their headquarters are in the UK, they have offices in Nairobi and regionally in Kenya. Your first point of contact will be ITDG UK, who can provide answers to many questions about the work of the paravets. Contact their Development Education team by email ([email protected]) or by phone (01926-634441). They will contact Practical Action East Africa if they are unable to answer your query, and, if necessary, Paul Mande or one of his colleagues can be contacted to give personal advice.

SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES
• Paul works in a community that depends on agriculture and livestock for their survival. By producing a purpose built carrier you will help to sustain him, his family and his community. Animal welfare is improved dramatically wherever paravets operate.
• Bags can be bought locally but are not purpose built nor are they made locally. Most are made in China. Your bag could contribute to the local economy if it can be made using local materials and local skills.
• Resources are scarce in rural Kenya. Designing and making a bag from recycled materials would ensure that resources are not depleted unnecessarily.

FURTHER INFORMATION
PARAVETS
KEY QUESTIONS
POTENTIAL PROJECTS
USEFUL REFERENCES

If you decide to work on this design brief, don't forget to consider the issues of sustainability in the different phases of your designing and making.
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