World-class designers to focus on sustainable rural transport

The project is presented as an Interdesign, an initiative of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Designers (ICSID) and is organised locally by the Design Institute, a division of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).

Looking at sustainable alternative modes of transport for rural areas is vitally important when the following facts are considered: more than 60% of rural households in South Africa say that public transport is not available to them or too far away to access. Of the almost 16 million learners who travel to school every day, 76% (or 12 million) walk. About 550 000 children spend more than two hours a day walking to and from schools. These are some of the facts contained in the latest National Travel Survey, shortly to be released by the National Department of Transport.

The Interdesign will focus on different areas of rural transport technology. Five skills-based designers from the Kuruman region will join forces with five industrial designers and four students to work on animal drawn carts. A total of 15 designers and students will look into the design challenges of bicycles and tricycles, whereas 12 designers and students will examine alternative modes of transport. A separate group will look at problems surrounding communication.

Top international industrial designer, George Teodorescu will also bring 13 of his students studying towards a masters degree in Integral Design at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart to work on alternative modes of transport.

Since the inception of Interdesign in 1971, 35 Interdesigns have been held in 18 countries worldwide. This initiative gives mid-career designers from different countries and cultures an opportunity to work with local experts and designers on issues of national, regional and global importance. This is the second time that South Africa, and more specifically the Design Institute, has hosted Interdesign. The previous one was held on the topic of water in 1999.

The idea to focus on sustainable rural transport came about when the SABS received a request from the North West provincial government to produce standards for donkey carts. This request raised awareness of the complexities of non-motorised rural transport and highlighted the need for an integrated design approach to the problem.

The initiative to provide rural people with well designed, sustainable forms of transport will continue beyond the two-week period spent on location in April. The National Department of Transport has shown a keen interest in the project and it is envisaged that other provincial governments, over and above the North West province will also join in to contribute to this national concern.

For more information, visit the Interdesign site on www.interdesign2005.org.za or on www.designinstitute.org.za.