Apropriate Development

Here's a great post to read: http://www.designobserver.com/archives/027474.html by David Stairs called "Why Design Won't Save the World." He reviews the Design for the Other 90% exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and points out many ways in which the exhibit and some of the technology presented there are woefully ignorant of the developing world even though this is precisely the audience for which the technology is developed. He discusses some of the projects and how they are developed and designed without a full understanding of the culture and the ways of the people. He talks about how those removed from the culture can prescribe a solution, or believe they understand a problem or tradgedies, without being there and with only the knowledge of the problems from film, brief visits to the country, or other means that do not include being entirely immersed in the culture. He also talks about doing projects on a smaller scale instead of trying to save the whole world. All in all a good post. Give it a read.