Beyond Five
A DIY guide for a locally-assembled frugal cradle for families in rural India to assign a safe space to new born babies in the home.
CLIENT
The Center for Knowledge Societies (CKS) is India’s leading innovation consulting firm. The company has wide experience in India, South Africa, China, Nigeria, Philippines, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
MY ROLE
Research designer / Product Designer
I worked with CKS for 5 months with 2 months on field, coordinating with research designers.
TOOLS USED
Ethnography, interviewing, prototyping, hand-sewing, woodwork, bamboo splitting.
the challenge
Children under the age of 5 are exposed to many risks inside their homes, some leading to morbidity. How can we prepare the houses to welcome a new-born and keep them safe?
understanding the population
solution goals
Frugal, locally sources/assembled
Quick and easy to replicate
Elevated/suspended to avoid proximity from playful siblings / vector-carrying animal.
Installed away from source of smoke in the home.
Ethnographic research to identify risk factors
Babies are exposed to many risks inside homes. The houses are not prepared to welcome a new-born. The first few weeks are the most important so that the child does not fall into a cycle of illness. Babies sleep with the mother during the night sleep without proper bedding on raised surfaces. Sleeping in urine soaked clothes and mattress, as mothers are too busy to change frequently. Exposure to mosquitoes, rodents and other insects while sleeping. Exposure to indoor pollution due to cooking on chulha, warding off evil eye, burning garbage, cleaning husk etc.
From sketches to blueprints
Explorations of cradles, focus on method of assembly, eliminated complications.
Manufacturing prototypes with local craftsmen to confirm applicability, exploration of manufacturing methods.
The suspended cradle marks a safe space for the child.
Protecting them from vector diseases from animals, insulating them. Every element of the Cradle is co-assembled with the family members, each reciting the responsibilities they undertake towards the child while adding their element. To engage multiple caregivers to form a 'Circle of Care'. The parents procure the materials that are assembled by the relatives and decorative elements are added to celebrate the birth.
Mother building the cradle from the blueprint using her own materials.
OTHER WORK
