By Moses Amama
Society generally views innovation as an instant moment of brilliant discovery which has the potential to alter everything. My efforts in teaching design in various communities have taught me that actual innovation is far more complex. The development of meaningful solutions requires more than new creation alone since it necessitates meaningful answers to actual problems. My work across various communities has altered my perspective on innovation by revealing its true meaning and how it can be nurtured.
Something I discovered along the way about innovation is that sometimes its limitations can guide its growth. Think about it. In most of these communities, there was limited resources, no access to technology but it is these challenges that drove people to develop original solutions which succeed in creating both realistic and significant outcomes. Their resourceful nature showed me that innovation exists beyond modern tools because it demands creativity combined with experimental spirit.
Just know that a design solution that works successfully in one environment will not succeed in another if it doesn’t take into consideration the specific local needs and culture. My community design teaching experience has made me practice deep listening and thorough observation. True innovation begins when people understand a problem by observing daily life experiences of those affected by it.
Teams need to work together as that is an essential component for innovation. A team comprising of designers and engineers alongside end-users creates discoveries which a single person could never produce. I participated in developing a low-cost water filtration system with women from a rural village in the South West. The group’s expertise allowed them to develop an approach which worked well along with straightforward operation and easy upkeep.
The simplest solutions often emerge as the most innovative ones in numerous cases. The process of overcomplicating design systems will usually lead to plans that become useless for both accessibility purposes and practicality needs particularly in restricted resource environments. I now focus exclusively on essential aspects by eliminating everything that is not crucial to the main function.
Then there is the power of local knowledge. Communities have developed their own tested methods to solving problems. If it isn’t broken, do not fix it and this works well for designers-if an approach works then do not change it.
So, what does this mean for the future of innovation? How can we apply these lessons to create more impactful and inclusive designs?
We must turn challenges into opportunities by embracing them. A scarcity of resources should be interpreted as a creative spark to open up new possibilities. Such a new way of thinking results in innovative solutions which carry sustainable and scalable potential.
Remember that collaboration should always be at the heart of the design process. Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens when diverse perspectives come together. Engaging end-users and local experts with stakeholders as partners from the beginning allows us to develop solutions which effectively serve particular needs.
Teaching design to local community members is a peak achievement during my professional time as an educator. It has led me to understand true innovation involves creating beneficial solutions for people through meaningful changes in their lives.
Innovation, at its core, is about people. And when we design with people, especially those who are often overlooked, we unlock the true potential of what design can achieve.
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