Creating meaningful social change is not an easy task - even less so when the agents of change are busy with homework and stressed out about exams, not to mention trying to socialize and enjoy themselves from time to time. And yet, Ashesi students demonstrate a seemingly endless supply of energy, creativity, and passion for creative problem-solving. These traits shouldn't just be devoted to exams and assignments, but also to the real-world, complex problems that face Ghana, sub-Saharan Africa, and the world today. At Ashesi, many student leaders and faculty members have taken on innovative projects aimed at addressing these problems and creating positive social change. The Ashesi Design Lab, or D:Lab, was created to support these people.
Since its founding in September, 2015, the D:Lab has hosted several successful projects in-house and partnered with Ghanaian industry on a diverse portfolio of external projects. In doing so, it has established itself within a global network of institutions trying to solve complex problems through design thinking. The D:Lab has also grown tremendously. In a few years, the scope of the D:Lab has expanded to encompass new members, new partnerships, and new ideas. A few D:Lab initiatives have been especially successful:
Launchpad Projects
D:Lab Launchpad Projects, originally known as the Fellows Program, are at the core of the D:Lab's mission to support ambitious and innovative projects at Ashesi. Through the Launchpad Projects, the D:Lab works with members of the Ashesi community to help them apply design thinking methodology to their own projects. Through working with the D:Lab, Launchpad Project leads gain access to student teammates, support systems that keep them motivated and accountable, and a community of like-minded and determined peers.
The diversity of Launchpad Projects is a testament to the versatility of design thinking. One of the early Launchpad Projects leveraged insights from behavioural economics to help Ghanaians save more and spark economic development. Another project explored the diverse potential of biomimicry - designing materials, structures, and systems modelled on living organisms and systems - in the Ghanaian context. Yet another, currently ongoing, is aimed at increasing the accuracy and speed of respiratory tract infection diagnosis. One particularly successful Launchpad Project, also ongoing, supports an Ashesi student's groundbreaking research on the potential of hydroponic agriculture in the sub-Saharan African climate. The D:Lab has provided this student and his team with on-going support and mentorship in an effort to help them succeed.
Fabrication Series
The Fabrication Series, originally known as the Maker Series, has been a hallmark of the D:Lab since its founding in 2015. It has also been one of the most warmly received D:Lab initiatives by the Ashesi community. The Fabrication Series consists of engaging, hands-on workshops that allow participants to get creative with emerging technologies. Workshops have ranged from designing electrical outlets for low-cost lighting all the way to mixing new beats with DJ technology. Whether it's a 3D-printed electrical outlet prototype or a new hit single, the Fabrication Series has always sought to give workshop attendees the chance to create and keep something for themselves. The Fabrication Series allows participants to discover and gain experience with fabrication technologies in a fun environment. It also gives them valuable skills and sheds some light on the potential these technologies hold for creating a better future.
Competition Series
The Competition Series, like the Fabrication Series, has been one of the D:Lab's most popular and successful initiatives. The Competition Series hosts a series of events in which participants leverage emerging technologies in new and interesting ways to create something new. It often involves working in teams in a fun, competitive environment. One recent event was the D:Lab's Blockchain Hackathon. Teams of participants brainstormed and prototyped ways in which Blockchain, an increasingly valuable online information record, could be leveraged to improve the agriculture supply chain in Ghana. Team projects included a financial service to help people save more, and an IT solution for grocery stores aimed at eliminating food waste. Teams presented their prototypes and ideas and received feedback from a panel of expert facilitators, including a national government Minister. The Competition Series has always sought to host interesting and exciting events and spark innovation with a little friendly competition.
Farm Modelling
The D:Lab's Farm Modelling project, one of its in-house Portfolio Projects, uses design thinking to improve farming experiences in the nearby community of Berekuso. In doing so, it also seeks to give D:Lab members and members of the community creative problem-solving experience. The goal of the project, "improve farming experiences," might seem a little bit vague - but this isn't a bad thing. The language is designed to allow farmers' preferences to come first. This sheds light on one of the most important considerations in design thinking: empathy. Putting farmers and their communities at the centre of the Farm Modelling project's vision aligns with the D:Lab's mission to understand and collaborate with the people whose problems it is trying to solve. This central tenet of design thinking is something that the D:Lab has always sought to instil in its members and the Ashesi community. Partnering with farmers in Berekuso is one way the D:Lab accomplishes this in its own backyard.
Outreach
The D:Lab's Outreach Team, originally both the Opportunity Desk and D:Lab Mobile, helps D:Lab members establish their place within a global community of creative problem-solvers. It does this by creating connections with committed design thinkers and creative problem-solvers in Ghana and around the world. Since the D:Lab's founding, the Outreach Team has collaborated to host design thinking conferences that have attracted and inspired members of both industry and academia. It has also given D:Lab members opportunities to present their work at conferences and events both in Ghana and abroad. One recent trip saw a group of D:Lab members visit the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. This was an exciting opportunity to learn, network, and share ideas with some of the world's top creative problem-solvers. Problem-solving can't be done in isolation. Creating connections and partnerships like the Outreach Team does ensures that the D:Lab and its members play a part in problem-solving at various scales, from the Ashesi community to the whole world.
Now entering its fourth year of operation, the D:Lab has become a force for positive social change in the Ashesi community. However, with so many inspiring and self-motivated people in the Ashesi community bringing new ideas and projects to the table, it has been challenging for the D:Lab to keep up with them all. With this in mind, the D:Lab has recently undergone an organizational restructure in partnership with Engineers Without Borders Canada. The D:Lab, new and improved for the 2018/2019 academic year, has clearer roles, a number of exciting new positions, and a renewed focus on supporting the people who are driven to create positive social change.
To find out more, explore the D:Lab's recruitment package and see where you might fit in.