Motivated by a desire to use design as a tool for social impact, we wanted to explore the role of designers in international development. Collaborating with the Norwegian NGO Eco Moyo Education Centre in Dzunguni village in Kenya, our project investigates how design methods can support community-driven change using system and strategic design methods.

For three months, we lived and worked in the village, conducting fieldwork to support the sustainable growth of the organisation and the community. Our project developed into writing a feasibility study for Eco Moyo’s potential next step: developing either a secondary school or a youth center. Through adapted design methods, we mapped the local youth development landscape, hosted workshops, and conducted interviews with students, parents, teachers, and youth.

Combining this research with visual communication, the aim is to clarify complexity and make local knowledge more accessible.Through user journeys, stakeholder maps, and scenario planning, we present possible development paths in the feasibility study.

Our thesis contributes to ongoing discussions about responsible and responsive design in development contexts. It also reflects the potential of design to bridge visions and voices in sustainable strategic decision making.