Watch Design With the Other 90%

2011
1 Season

Design With the Other 90% is a fascinating documentary series produced by the Smithsonian Channel in 2011. The show investigates innovative design solutions created by professional designers, architects, and engineers to address various social, economic, and environmental issues that affect the world's poorest 90% of the population. The series features six episodes, each focusing on a specific global problem, including housing, sanitation, education, transportation, food, and energy.

The first episode, titled "Shelter," explores the challenges faced by people living in slums and refugee camps around the world. The episode features interviews with architects and designers who have developed low-cost and sustainable housing solutions, such as modular homes made from locally sourced materials, micro-housing units, and emergency shelters that can be easily assembled and transported.

The second episode, "Water," highlights the critical issue of clean water access in developing nations. The episode examines various innovative solutions, such as rainwater harvesting systems, solar-powered water pumps, and mobile water filtration units, which have been designed to provide safe and affordable water to communities in need.

The third episode, "Education," looks at the challenges faced by students in disadvantaged communities who lack access to basic educational resources. The episode features initiatives aimed at providing low-cost and effective learning tools, such as mobile phone apps, solar-powered tablets, and modular classrooms.

The fourth episode, "Transportation," explores the difficulties faced by people in rural areas who lack access to reliable transportation, which limits their ability to reach healthcare facilities or job opportunities in urban areas. The episode investigates innovative solutions, such as low-cost bicycle ambulances, mobile medical clinics, and community-run transport services.

The fifth episode, "Food," looks at the issues of hunger and malnutrition in developing nations. The episode examines various initiatives aimed at increasing food production, reducing food waste, and improving the nutritional value of crops, such as vertical farming, seed banks, and community gardens.

The final episode, "Energy," highlights the issues of energy poverty and climate change, which disproportionately affect people in developing nations. The episode features innovations aimed at providing clean and sustainable energy, such as solar-powered microgrids, biogas digesters, and wind turbines.

Throughout the series, viewers are introduced to inspiring people who are working tirelessly to solve some of the world's most pressing problems, using their skills and creativity to improve the lives of millions of people. The show provides a unique insight into the challenges faced by the world's poorest communities, while offering practical and innovative solutions that have the potential to make a real difference.

Overall, Design With the Other 90% is an insightful and thought-provoking series that highlights the importance of creative thinking and collaboration in solving global problems. The show appeals to anyone interested in design, innovation, and social justice, and has the potential to inspire a new generation of design professionals to focus their talents on creating solutions that benefit the most vulnerable communities around the world.

Design With the Other 90% is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (4 episodes). The series first aired on November 29, 2011.

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Seasons

4. Looking Forward

December 6, 2011

Experts predict that by 2030, roughly 2 billion people around the world will be living in informal settlements - urban communities with poor access to housing, safe water, and city services. It's a sobering statistic, but within these challenging neighborhoods are millions of people with ideas and inspiration. An organization founded by 50 street beggars is now building a brand new town in Kenya. UNICEF is revolutionizing Internet access in Uganda, and a young inventor is designing through dialogue - one street vendor at a time. There's a new water delivery system in Manila, and in Bangladesh a chemist has found a solution to one of the largest mass poisonings in human history. Across continents and cultures, individuals are inventing a future we can all look forward to.

3. Crossroads of Change

December 6, 2011

Our planet is at a crossroads. A changing environment and shifting population patterns present significant new demands on cities worldwide. Luckily, people are coming up with ingenious answers. In Bangladesh, old school meets new as communities rise above floodwaters. Modular bikes in South Africa andvertical gyms in Venezuela allow end users to adapt their world to fit their needs (and even have fun along the way). And two groups in Africa are planting seeds. The first, in Kenya, is working towards food security in slums. And in South Africa, it's the seeds of cultural understanding that have been planted at the vibrant community crossroads.

2. Ideas Into Action

November 29, 2011

From the simple, to the profound to the life changing, design ideas and solutions are making a difference in the lives of millions around the world. Residents of Bogota, Colombia, show the world a new way to move around. Volunteer health workers in Bangladesh use a portable pharmacy to treat millions of people. An international team discovers an answer to Africa's AIDS epidemic may already be in people's hands. And in Kenya, one man finally unlocks the way to turn a refuse problem into a fuel solution.

1. A New Vision

November 29, 2011

Around the world, people are tackling issues of urban poverty with determination and ingenuity. The people of Kibera, one of the largest slums in Africa, are finally putting themselves on the map and improving the infrastructure in their community. In South Africa, an architect teams with an engineer to devise a better way to build with local materials. And in Medellin, Colombia, a visionary team reinvigorates the city with cable cars and spectacular architecture.

Description

Where to Watch Design With the Other 90%

Design With the Other 90% is available for streaming on the Smithsonian Channel website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Design With the Other 90% on demand at Amazon, Vudu, Google Play and Apple TV.