The lean design for the developing world method: a novel lean market-based product design methodology for developing world markets that benefits consumers and companies

The Lean Design for the Developing World (LDW) method is a novel lean market-based product design methodology for use in developing world markets. Having a market-based approach, the LDW is unique among methods created for use in the developing world. Tools and methods such as appropriate technology, Engineering and Sustainable community development and Human Centered Design have been developed to help bring improvements to the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world. One thing these methods have in common is a user-centered approach to design that seeks to obtain context specific qualitative data from those with who the designs will eventually interact. These user-centered approaches have seen sustainable success in project level engineering design challenges. For consumer level products however, a user-centered approach can struggle to deliver design solutions that are able to be successfully scaled to greater varieties of customer environments.