Designer’s Capability to Design and its Impact on User’s Capabilities

Abstract

Extending the dictionary meaning of 'capability' as individual skills or abilities, the current paper adopts a Capability Approach (CA) based definition. Accordingly capabilities are effective (operational) options available to an indi-vidual to be and do as aspired, in leading a life of value upon reflection. This concept primarily evolved in development economics, and has remained confined to the Bottom/Base of the Pyramid, wherein the capabilities of the poor are envisaged to be leveraged upon in alleviating poverty. Design for the BoP aims at designing appropriate products to serve as means to realize or augment the capabilities of the poor. However, the designer's role as an individual with capabilities is taken for granted. capabilities to design are the effective options/ resources available for the designer to design effectively. The current paper extends the concept of CA to the designer, and evaluates the related capabilities for its impact on designing products aimed at the BOP to alleviate poverty.