Successful Open Design Cases
of others. Also, posting the project on a platform such as this makes sure that the project gets attention, visibility and feedback (Architecture for Humanity, 2012b). Business model The organization is split into 72 chapters in 14 countries around the world. These chapters work as local affiliates of the parent organization. Their work is mainly regional (Architecture for Humanity, 2012c). AfH’s value proposition for the end-user is free design services which might not be otherwise available. For the participants, who are largely dominated by the architectural profession, the value proposition is the chance to see and be a part of architecture as a sustainable solution that affects people’s lives (Week, D., 2012). The organisation is non-profit and driven by donations and sponsorships. On a side note, seeing that the concept has inspired so many people and gained a great deal of publicity, the founders and in particular Cameron, have been able to gain revenue as public speakers. A book has also been published, Design Like You Give a Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises. It is important to mention that to the founders there are other aspects more valuable than revenue streams, namely sustainability and social responsibility. “It is not enough to look at the environment; culture and society must be a part of the equation” (Social Enterprises, 2011).
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AfH uses 5% of its capital to raise funding and 10% is used in administration costs. This leaves 85% of their capital being solely spent on construction and design services (Architecture for Humanity, 2012a).
5% fundraising outreach
10% administration cost
85% spent on construction and design services
The community The community of participants contains diverse backgrounds including architects, engineers, planners, NGOs, manufacturers and suppliers. By joining these different actors together a powerful pool of talent is created. The network counts approximately 40,000 people. By having such an extensive network a momentum is created by word of mouth. This raises social awareness and works as a marketing tool. Furthermore, this community is used for raising funds. But what motivates participants to contribute? The motives seem to be mostly intrinsic. The participants are working pro bono which eliminates monetary compensation. It seems like the participants are more driven by their will to make a difference and to influence people’s lives. Also, as importantly, by joining the network they are gaining an access to an extensive resource of knowledge, networking and peer to peer inspiration.
“When your focus is social change and not financial change why wouldn’t you want to share that openly?” Cameron Sinclair, 2008