Assessing and Critiquing Sources - Design4theOther90%

The conception of the Q Drum originated in response to the needs of rural people in Southern Africa who struggle conveying adequate quantities of potable water from a reliable source. A task generally bestowed on the women and children of each community. Designed to lower the effort and time of an everyday problem in many developing countries the Q Drum is a great example of “Design for the other 90%”. The Q Drum was also created for versatility, used in the military, agriculture, mining and natural disasters.

The inventiveness of the Q Drum is simple in its conception but incredibly sound in its design; by simply creating a cylindrical barrel shape with the ability to contain water safely for many miles with the use of a rope to pull it along has created many versatile functions. The Q Drum is a great piece of innovation in respect to the needs of developing countries, by minimizing the effort and making it accessibly easy to use for even the youngest of children the woman and young adults of communities are free to exercise energy into other work. But it is not without its drawbacks. Those that need them ultimately, can’t afford them and those who can, most likely don’t need them. The Q Drum costs around $50USD to manufacture and sell and so many small communities cannot acquire one without third party donators such as World Vision and AidforAfrica. This is not effective design for the other 90%.  Similarly to many innovations in developing countries the ideas and means of technology are present but it is often the distribution and manufacturing of the items that is considered last. And by making it the responsibility of charity organisations the product cannot reach its full potential. Yes, the Q Drum is more effective than the most common method of obtaining water in small communities. But a piece of simple, innovative and smart design such as itself needs to be common place in its intended location, not a piece of art work. Design should not discriminate.  The idea of “Design for the other 90%” can become futile when designers are merely displaying innovation without putting it into its intended user’s hands freely or easily.

Designs such as the Q Drum only offer a temporary method of inventiveness simply because they do not approach the bigger issue. Developing countries should be working to provide fresh drinking water to small communities without the need of transport. The Q Drum still requires time and labour effort and because it is only 50 litres multiple trips would be needed to supply a community with water for the day. 


REFERENCE

Q Drum Website: http://www.qdrum.co.za/
Aid For Africa Website: http://www.aidforafrica.org/
World Vision: http://www.worldvision.org.nz/