The Trialist

I like the theory behind design but have not seen it work yet. I am going along for the ride, but I remain skeptical.

Relevant Resources


I have been a part of global health projects in which design was adopted as an approach. But I am not sure what value it adds, how it is different from other participatory approaches, and what type of problems it can tackle. I want to see how design can contribute in a consistent and sustainable manner that can be measured in some way.     


My needs

  • To be exposed to more examples of how design can be applied

  • To have access to resources that can help answer questions around the operationalization of design

  • To avoid an inflexible design process

  • To gain a more strategic understanding of design to maximize its impact


My struggles with design

I have seen that it is easier to recognize the impact of design on tangible, product-based solutions than on intangible, intervention-level applications.”

  “I have seen people’s enthusiasm toward design, but I wonder what part of it makes an actual impact. How do you measure and evaluate it?”

  “I have seen a range of ways in which design has been applied to varying degrees of success. What makes me skeptical is that many people seem to think that if they do it once, they know how to do it in any scenario.

My questions


What is a sustainable model for using design in interventions?

How do you scope design in a way that can make it most effective to use in global health programming?

How can we gather more evidence on the impact of design?

What do I put in the TOR / RFP?

How do I account for what design might cost?

My Requirements

I would like documents, case studies, and examples that describe how design was used successfully. I want to know what tools were used, who was a part of the project, and how it was operationalized.