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People are dying everywhere because they do not have access to such basic things as food, water and electricity. At the same time, those with the experience and knowledge to redress this balance design wine labels and Maserati billboards. Design For the Other 90% gathers together the work of designers who are seeking to alleviate the desperate need of 90% of the population, rather than the 10% with a disposable income. This publication shows us what design should be - simple, honest and effective. An ethos propagated in the design of the book itself with thin, uncoated full colour pages bound between a self-cover, making the book a delight to handle.

Encompassing a broad set of modern social and economic concerns, these design innovations seek to support responsible, sustainable economic policy. They help, rather than exploit, poorer economies; minimize environmental impact; increase social inclusion; improve healthcare at all levels; and advance the quality and accessibility of education. The awareness of design as a medium for social change has gained momentum over recent years.

Such life-changing designs that are exhibited in the book are the Q-Drum, which is a circular jerry that holds 20 litres of water. It rolls so smoothly that a child can easily tow it on a rope. The Q-Drum is designed to change the way water is fetched; currently this backbreaking job is usually done by women and girls who balance water cans on their heads.

The Lifestraw is a drinking filter that kills bacteria as water is sucked through it. Since a significant portion of the world’s population does not have access to safe and clean drinking water, the Lifestraw will prove instrumental in preventing the spread of waterborne diseases with its filtration system allowing one to even drink directly from a river if needs must.

The Drip Irrigation System kits are significantly less expensive than conventional drip systems used on commercial farms, and were developed for small-scale farmers. Studies show that drip irrigation reduces water use by 30-70% and increases yields by over 50%. There is improved crop quality, crop-per-drop efficiency for agricultural intensification, and cultivation of high-value marketable crops. The kits, operating under very little water pressure, are typically used in the production of fruit and vegetable crops, but have also been used for maize, wheat, and cotton. More than 600,000 systems have been sold.

The designs have been created, and now all that is wanting is the establishment of systems, distribution, and the political will to help serve this marginalised 90%.

Other titles to be read alongside this book are Architecture and Vegetation – Hybird Home Spaces, Design Like You Give A Damn, Ecotopia: The Seconds ICP Triennial of Photography and XS Green: Big Ideas, Small Buildings.

Keywords: Africa, Design, environment, essays, green, industrial-design, poverty alleviation