G.2 Methods

G.2.1 Project Setup

From experiences with earlier base-of-the-pyramid (BoP) projects at Delft University of Technology (Kandachar et al., 2009), it was concluded that creating products for BoP markets requires a deep understanding of the real daily needs and context of the people within it. In such a situation it is clear that designers, in this case a team of four students, should engage with the cultures directly in order to better understand local people (Rodriguez et al., 2006). Because of this reason, a special emphasis of the project was put on local context research in the field. Knowing the context and observing and interacting with users in their context help designers to understand the users' latent needs and come up with new appropriate product solutions that meet their real lighting needs. As a result the most essential part of the project took place in rural areas of Cambodia during a period of 3 months, during which time designers explored and understood the local context and needs as well as developed local suitable design solutions for the lighting needs of rural Cambodians.

G.2.2 Participatory Market and Context Research

As a first step of the new product development trajectory, a thorough participatory market and context research was executed in the field. The market and context research existed of two parts: (1) observatory research and (2) participatory research.

As a first start for the designers to get familiarized with the local socioeconomic context and make some first detailed insights into the problems and needs for electrical light, observatory research was carried out (Alvarez et al., 2008). The circumstances and use of current lighting products were investigated in households in Kandal Province, Cambodia, to gain insight into the current use of lighting and electronic products. The design team executed observations by visiting local households and conducting interviews (see Figure G.2.1). Questions were asked by the students with the support of local translators in relation to the way and purpose of people's use of light.

Figure G.2.1 Observatory research in rural Cambodia

During the second phase, participatory methods were used to gain a deeper insight into daily life in order to identify suitable product–market combinations as well as insight into people's needs. Focus groups sessions and day mapping (see Figure G.2.2) were used to identify and map the needs and wishes of rural Cambodian consumers for (electrical) light in their daily life.

Figure G.2.2 Participatory research in rural Cambodia

G.2.3 Participatory Field Research: User Needs

One of the first outcomes of the participatory field research was a map of the current needed and wanted (electrical) light functions in and around the household, such as studying, managing the shop, eating, cooking, watching the animals, washing the dishes, visiting friends, and so on. Figure G.2.3 provides a more detailed overview of needed and wanted light functions. It is clear that light is needed for multiple functions.

Figure G.2.3 The current as well as wanted use for light in rural Cambodia

The participatory field research led to the following main conclusion: The new light device should be completely substitute the kerosene lamp. The poor quality of kerosene light, its flammability and health hazards, and its highly volatile fuel prices are the main drivers. In addition, the new lamp should be portable: Different rooms need to be lit, but most households cannot afford more than one lamp. Furthermore, a dimmed light during the night was needed, to orient in the dark and feel safe while saving energy at the same time. The dimmed light has to last for only a few hours per night, and about 3 hours of full light are needed during the evening. In addition, the inventive character of the Cambodians and the completely improvised style of their houses called for a flexible product that people could use as they wish, without too many restrictions. The product should provide enough luminosity for reading. Last but not least, the lamp should be shock, water, and dirt resistant. Incorporating all these requirements would create a specific added value for rural BoP Cambodian households.

G.2.4 Technological Challenges

Parallel to the participatory field context and user needs research, the team executed technical “lab” research focusing on efficiency, reasonable purchase costs, and low total costs of ownership. For the energy supply of the system, two options were possible:

• A battery-charging system powered by photovoltaic (PV) cells with low initial costs (for the user) but higher running costs. The batteries are taken out of the products and charged by a local entrepreneur by PV cells.
• A totally independent system with higher initial costs but no running costs for the end user. The product is directly charged by the PV cells (integrated in the product or connected through a cable with an external PV panel).

The decision was taken to continue with the last option and to design an independent PV white LED–light system. To keep the product simple and the cost as low as possible, it was decided not to integrate the PV cell into the lamp, but to develop a separate lamp and PV panel. Simply said, a PV–LED light product consists in that case of one or more LEDs, a rechargeable battery, and a small PV module. However, from former studies it was concluded that electronics plays a crucial role in providing a series of necessary functions. The electronics have to (1) match the solar power to the battery characteristics, (2) control the charging and discharging of the battery, and (3) control the power to the LED (driver).

As a result of the electronics, the light device will be more energy efficient, perform better, have a longer lifetime, and be more convenient to handle. This way the Kamworks light products can provide more constant quality and reliability, higher performance, and added value to the end user compared to the cheaper PV lamps. Quality and performance are two of the most important selling points in the rural Cambodian BoP (Rijke, 2008).

G.2.5 Co-Development

Based upon the inputs of the extended participatory local-context research, the competences of Kamworks, and technological development, four concepts were developed (see Figure G.2.4). This is in line with “normal” product development in any market.

Figure G.2.4 Four concepts for new light devices for rural Cambodia

In order to develop appropriate design solutions that really fit into the BoP context of Cambodia, local stakeholders were intensively involved in the concept development, the so-called co-design. Co-design can be defined as a cooperative, contentious process bringing everyday people together with design professionals to find new and better ideas for daily life (Simanis and Hart, 2008).

Potential end users as well as potential sales channels like micro entrepreneurs were confronted with product ideas in an early stage (see Figure G.2.5). Direct feedback from the field led to practical, socioeconomically and culturally driven suggestions for improvements of the concepts.

Figure G.2.5 Co-development with local stakeholders