-
Albert
Einstein
A few days ago I came across this quote. The last line of the quote asks us to reach out to living creatures and the natural beauty. But the questions lies in how? How can we widen our circle of compassion? I guess everyone will have a different opinion on this topic. The opinion maybe based on the way a particular person sees the world. Some people might show compassion by giving alms to the needy. Some people might show compassion by feeding a stray dog. But compassion for what? A musician shows compassion for the auditory senses through his finest piece of music. An artist shows compassion for visual senses through his finest piece of art.
A few days ago I came across this quote. The last line of the quote asks us to reach out to living creatures and the natural beauty. But the questions lies in how? How can we widen our circle of compassion? I guess everyone will have a different opinion on this topic. The opinion maybe based on the way a particular person sees the world. Some people might show compassion by giving alms to the needy. Some people might show compassion by feeding a stray dog. But compassion for what? A musician shows compassion for the auditory senses through his finest piece of music. An artist shows compassion for visual senses through his finest piece of art.
A
designer shows compassion through his design. That is the language he chooses
to reflect his compassion. You know the reason?
Because
design itself is an outcome of compassion. Designers are compassionate people,
didn't you know that?
The
very essence of finding a problem and coming up with a solution to those
problems exists due to compassion. There
is a feeling to connect to every human being. An empathy to understand the
problems being faced by the society. A joy to create something for the society.
Something which is going to help someone or the other in one or many ways. It
is the compassion to create something worthwhile, to create something which is
going to improve lives that drives a good design.
One
of my projects was to come up with a proposal for a product solution for street
side vendors selling food items. Now this was a project which was about compassion. A
compassion which lead me to propose a design to provide a good experience to the customer
and also to uplift the present status of the street vendors. After all, street
food is something which we all enjoy.
When
I was doing my research for the topic, I came across a street vendor who was
selling chaat right in front of a big
shop. As part of my research, I started talking to him. I asked for a plate of
chaat and slowly eased him into a conversation. I asked him questions regarding
him and his business.
He
replied,
“Sir,
I am from Mumbai. I use to be a spot boy in Mumbai. Later, after earning some
considerable amount of money, I opened up my own chaat stall. I have served
many actors and actresses. My business was going on really good but
unfortunately, I had to move out because of some differences with my brother.
So I came to Pune to seek a better life here."
On
asking how his business was, he replied
“It
has been just four days since I moved here. Up until now, the business is
running on fine. But not as good as I expected it to be. Hopefully, it will
become better. “
I
asked him about the problems he faced.
“I
have to travel a long distance daily to sell my stuff. Sometimes it is very
difficult when it rains. I have to leave my food cart here itself as I cannot
travel with it daily. It’s pretty huge and costed me around twenty-five
thousand rupees.”
I
was shocked! A wooded food cart for twenty-five thousand? I asked about the drinking water and the electricity
for his cart bulb.
“The
shop behind me provides me with the electricity at hundred rupees per month. I
get the drinking water from the water cooler outside the shop. In order to
attract customers, I display my products on the top shelf of the cart from
where everyone can see it."
While
this food entrepreneur was busy talking to me, I started to observe the
surrounding. In place of a proper garbage bin, there was an old cardboard
carton which was already overflowing and there was garbage all around it which
was attracting a lot of flies. There was no provision for hygienic drinking
water for the customers. There was a
small PET water container which was used for washing hands and the water used
to flood the pavement.
I
observed the way the vendor was making the chaat. He had no gloves or hair
covering. I inquired him regarding the hygiene measures and he said that he never considered it but will consider
it now. I was done with the interview. I thanked him for his time and wished
him good luck with his business.
What
I saw really compelled me to think. Why is there such pathetic condition of
street food? Why can’t people have hygienic food? And moreover, how can the same people who demand hygienic food, themselves contribute in making the street sides dirty? Why can't people throw their wastes in the garbage bins? And why can’t these street
vendors have a better working condition?
This
thought process lead me to think of some innovative solutions to the food cart.
I am a designer. I have to be compassionate. There is a problem and I have to provide a solution. Thus, I started off with the design process. The brainstorming
sessions, the mind mapping sessions. The cognitive thinking as well the
usability and feasibility concept. I developed some concepts and finally went
for one of the concept which was a portrayal of a futuristic urban food cart.
Now looking back, I ask myself, what really inspired me to design this cart? Simply put, it was compassion. The compassion
with the customers that they have a right to enjoy mouthwatering street food in
the most hygienic condition. The compassion with the street vendors to provide
them with solutions which they don’t have in their food carts right now.
But thinking at a global level, merely a product isn't going to change things. The whole system needs to co-operate. The vendors
need to be educated and the customers need to have certain moral obligations
for not dirtying up the streets. I hope for a better society.