Each IDDS typically features 5-8 projects depending on the capacity of the organizing team and the host community.  Below are some tips on how to select and scope your project before IDDS as well as a list of all the past IDDS projects we have information for.

How to Select and Scope a Project for IDDS

Selecting projects that can be manageable within the given timeframe is important.  Organizers need to pre-select appropriate projects which are not too abstract nor specific. Once the project is scoped by the organizers, you should introduce the project to the design facilitators first and then to the participants at a high level so the participants can choose which project they want to dive into. If you need more guidance on how to select and scope the projects check out the video here by Ben Linder.  

For each project, the Design Facilitator should know:

1. Where will the team be working?

2. What is the challenge the community is facing and what are the design constraints and resources available to help solve it?  The participants will practice observing, asking, and trying when they are at IDDS to gather more information and frame the specific problem, but this will be a helpful starting point.

3. Why is this challenge important to address?  Share any relevant facts or statistics you have - the design facilitators should do more research on this too.

4. What other solutions (if any) already exist, how much do they cost, and why are existing solutions not effective (ex. because they cost too much, they not available in the area, they need electricity, they are not user-friendly for females,  etc.)?

5. Who is currently involved / who is the main point of contact in the community that design facilitators and participants will be able to work with during IDDS?  Participants may do a stakeholder mapping during IDDS, but this will be helpful for design facilitators to know who the main point of contact is within the community for this project.

In addition to sharing these answers with design facilitators, organizers should share any photos they have of the community or the project relevant to the questions above.

Design facilitators can use this information to prepare a simple presentation for participants.  They should do more research on the project area before the summit and they will share the presentation at the beginning of the IDDSs with the participants. 

We strongly recommend putting participants into their project teams before your IDDS begins so you do not have to scramble during IDDS to craft the participant teams (time is tight those first few days!).  Mustafa Naseem, the Lead Organizer from IDDS Lahore, recommends having teams put together no later than 2 weeks before your IDDS - since organizers and design facilitators are usually busy with other logistical preparation and acclimating to the space.  If you need more guidance on how to form your project teams and a sample project selection form you can send to participants check out the video here or the PPT here. 

Past IDDS Projects

List coming soon!