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Design Blog Design Blog » Design for the Other 90% » Out of Poverty

Out of Poverty

Out of Poverty

International Development Enterprises’ founder Paul Polak has just released his much anticipated book Out of Poverty, What Works When Traditional Approaches Fail. Based on his 25 years of experience he tells why traditional poverty eradication programs have fallen short and how his alternative approach works. Paul’s work and dedication to developing practical design solutions that attack poverty at its roots was the inspiration for the Design for the Other 90% exhibition. He works in co-creation with thousands of farmers in Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Nepal, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe to design and produce low-cost, income-generating products that have helped 17 million people emerge out of poverty. His pioneering alternative approach serves as a successful model of what is possible.

The book has met with favourable reviews from the Economist, Business Week and the International Herald Tribune. In the coming months Paul will be discussing both his new book and the start of a design revolution in a series of public lectures.

About the Author: Cynthia E. Smith is Curator of Socially Responsible Design at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.

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Comments

  1. This book and the exhibit “Design for the Other 90%” illustrate how powerful design can be in solving the most pressing issues facing people and communities around the globe. Visionaries like Polak and Smith should have a place at the table with elected officials, business executives and world leaders in addressing extreme poverty.

    Andy King | Apr 9, 10:23 AM

  2. Thank you for sharing the exhibit in such an accessible way with those of us who could not visit it in person. The stories you tell are inspiring, and I am sure they will encourage people in other places to emulate these achievements.
    I have shared the story of the exhibition on Hopebuilding wiki, along with some similar stories from many parts of the world.
    I invite you to visit it when you have a chance at http://hopebuilding.pbwiki.com.

    Rosemary Cairns | Apr 10, 09:09 AM

  3. The landing Page video states, “They don’t need a handout, they need an opportunity. They are very hard working people…”

    So I assume that assassinating the dictators depriving its subjects their basic human rights such as property rights and free speech is out of the question?

    If you really want to attack poverty you need to attack liberalism because it principles are only measured but intent and never by results. If any of it’s principles made a difference, over the past 60 years we would have seen an end to poverty by now.

    chris | May 6, 12:37 PM

  4. For anyone who may be interested, Dr. Paul Polak will be speaking at the Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) in Toronto, Canada on Thursday, June 17, 6:30 pm. The talk is free and includes a book signing – all are welcome. For more details visit www.ocad.ca.

    OCAD’s Professional Gallery will present Design for the Other 90% this fall, opening during Scotiabank Nuit Blanche on Saturday, October 4, 2008.

    Sarah Mulholland | Jun 4, 09:35 AM

  5. Dear Ms Smith,

    Your exhibition inspired my 10 year old son and he has been asking me to organize that he go visit the village in Cambodia where he understood that many of the inventions and research were done.I have tried to find out about it but with no luck. Can yo help me to learn more about this center and if one may visit it in some capacity.
    I look very much forward to hearing .
    Best regards,
    Sabina Braxton

    sabina | Aug 3, 07:52 PM

  6. Dear Ms Smith, A friend of mine invited me to visit your web side. It is very educational. I travel to haiti frenquently on mission. working with under priviledge people . with no good drinking waters, no energy and more.

    Bishop Dr, Lubin Moise, sr | Jun 15, 07:46 PM

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