Takeaway

Design is to cultivate relationships. Innovating Water is a registered NPO that provides sustainable community-based UV-solar water treatment systems along with educational programs in schools and health facilities in Kenya. I co-founded Innovating Water as the Design Director with multidisciplinary team members across the UK and Kenya.

Instead of being described as a founder or a designer, I would introduce myself as a student who is eager to learn, an honest friend who is always listening, and a facilitator that initiated opportunities for conversations in the journey.

I didn't design and introduce the solution to the communities. Instead, I was always learning — and collaborated and ideated with the communities. We established shared ownership of the solution. The true innovation of this project is the relationship. See the full story in my case study.