Using Design Thinking and Facebook to Accompany Women in Solving Water Problems in Morocco

Abstract

Environmental issues are complex and malicious problems involving many characteristics, variables, increasing their level of uncertainty. While accompanying groups in solving their environmental problems, it is important to develop collaborative and creative approaches to properly define the problem at hand. In Morocco, flooding combined with climate change is damaging the drinking water supply system. The victims of this problem are searching for adaptation strategies. Design thinking and Facebook were selected as the methods to guide 10 Moroccan women in solving a problem with flooding. Design thinking encourages a needs analysis, abductive reasoning, and rapid prototyping. Digital tools, such as Facebook, can also help with problem definition, discussion, and solution development. Through the use of videos and pictures, the women shared their flood experience on Facebook and together solved the issue of poor drinking water as they were guided through the steps of design thinking. The experience allowed the women to broaden their definition of the problem and prototype various water purification solutions that demonstrated potential. The women developed a sense of collaboration and carried out flood adaptation strategies.