Project H

On Thursday, March 25th founder of Project H, Emily Pilloton visited Syracuse University. Together with her partner and a van of humanitarian designs, Emily Pilloton exhibited objects that could changed the world. Though a designer herself, Pilloton collected objects that that represented the needs of underrepresented people in the design world. Such objects include the Hippo Roller, which allows villagers to transport 22 gallons of water back to their communities from a distant water source without harming themselves in the process. Another genius design is glasses that allow the wearer to adjust their own prescription without any help from an eye doctor. For people in third world countries who do not always have access to the aid of trained professionals, there are glasses that attempt to recognize that problem. These are just a few of the many objects that have been designed to solve more problems than they create.

Something of brilliance that Pilloton emphasized during her presentation was the need to get the users involved in the design process. The people who would be using the object are the ones who understand the problem the best. Designers are supposed to interpret the problem into a solution, but first they must converse with the experts of the problem. To do this, it is important to be immersed in the community. One question that I felt was left unanswered was, if the objects are often designed for people who have less money, how are they supposed to afford the objects? Pilloton said that Project H was about planet, people, and profit. How does the profit part work out?