Delft University of Technology & MORE THAN SHELTERS & Adra, 2017
Strategic design, Interaction design, Product design, Embodiment, Social design, Field research, Context mapping
Quw is a solar powered light and phone charger that is assembled and personalized by refugee youngsters themselves. The assembling is done on the included rug that, through a manual, guides the youngsters in putting Quw’s different parts together. A spacial scratch layer provides for the personalization of Quw. Quw can be charged in the sun throughout the day and charges a phone and light to use while studying, as a torch or to hang in their tent. Quw enables youngsters to express their own identity and crease their personal access to electricity.
Prior to this project Killian and Adinda (me) visited refugee camp The Jungle in Calais . The energy and drive that was experienced in the camp motivated and inspired us to organize a project for this context. The picture underneath illustrates the positivity and identity that is often forgotten when talking about refugees.
At the start of the project the company, the industry, and the context were analyzed. Collaborating with experts generated a lot of information that guided to a clear design goal, being:
We want to increase the personal accessibility to electricity for youngsters, aged 12-18, so they have a prospect on a better future and can start to form their own identity, in starting habitats, by creating a DIY product that can generate renewable powered electricity.
Form this point the ideation phase started, which resulted in three different concept directions, all including a Do It Yourself (DIY) aspect.
field research in Greece
In camp Petra Olympou in Greece, field research has been conducted. Both camp organizations and refugees have been interviewed, and several DIY kits were brought and tested with the teenagers. With this information the final product Quw could be developed.
A prototype has been created to use in the final validation research in an asylum seeking center in The Netherlands. Insides from this validation are used to do recommendations for further development of Quw.
