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About

AN INNOVATION CONSULTANCY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD

We combine expertise in Design Thinking and Human-Centred Design with robust academic credentials in development theory.​

 

Based in LDCs since 2010, Margin specializes in designing for complex environments and ​low-resource settings. Our proven innovation methods build interventions that last.

 

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Margin supports socially-minded organizations, donors, and governments with strategic innovation and design. Our experience spans over 50 projects across 20 countries in developing Africa and Asia. 

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explore

Design sprint Cambodia horticulture market design

OUR

WORK

Our work
Map of HCD, design thinking, innovation strategy, and capacity-building projects

EXPERIENCE

- Agriculture  -  Agroforestry  -  Agro-input supply
- Antenatal care  -  Child nutrition  -  Clean water access  

- Cocoa  -  Commercial Forestry  -  Conservation agriculture  

- Cotton  -  Disability and inclusion  -  Education  

- Energy access  -  Equity and justice  -  Farmer Cooperatives  

- Farm services  -  Fish farming  -  Hand hygiene  

- Homestead food production  -  Horticulture  

- Infant nutrition  -  Land tenure  -  Low-tech irrigation  

- Maize  -  Maternal nutrition  -  mHealth  -  Patient-centred care  

- Pesticide management  - Plastic waste  -  Rural entrepreneurship  

- Sanitation marketing  -  Sanitation waste management  

- School meals  -  Sexual reproductive health

- Smallholder marketing  -  Tea growing  -  Vocational training   

OUR
SERVICES

We specialize in user research, design sprints, capacity-building, and designing solutions and interventions for marginalized populations.

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school nutrition and meals for rural and marginalized communities
Sevices
Explore service

WHO WE ARE

We are a team of seasoned experts in Design and strategic innovation for marginalized populations. Each Designer and Strategist brings at least a decade of experience in strategic innovation and design, along with robust credentials working with vulnerable communities in complex settings. We are a woman-led organization that celebrates diversity in all of its forms. 

MARIKO TAKEUCHI

Mariko has 19 years of experience designing programmes, services, products, and systems for NGOs, corporations, development agencies, governments, donors, and universities. She has worked across Africa and Asia on topics spanning agriculture, education, employment, energy, finance, gender, health, livelihoods, markets, SRH, sustainability, and WASH. She holds a MSc. Poverty Alleviation, Policy & Practice.

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Head of Design & CEO 

MARIKO

DUNCAN STEVENS

Duncan, is a South African research, UX and design professional with 15 years experience and training in industrial design, visual design and UX. As a co-founder of an open-source bio-design collective, he has led several contextually specific projects in South Africa for marginalised communities and research organisations. Duncan currently lives and works in Cape Town.

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DUNCAN

Director
ESG/Corporate Impact

Bizhou is an architect turned researcher with over a decade of experience working on design, cultural insights, and innovation projects with multinational corporations and development organizations. She has worked on four continents with an extensive focus on Asia on topics spanning from spaces, sustainability, food behaviors, and clean cooking.

BIZHOU
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BIZHOU WANG

ESG & Cultural Lead

ABDUL SEMAKULA

As former co-founder of a web agency serving over 1,500 SME customers in UAE and Europe, Abdul has consulted on web/software projects for government, INGOs, and corporations in Uganda. After questioning his role in the digital space, he has spent the last 4 years working in social innovation and is focused on applying design and systems thinking for social and environmental initiatives.

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ABDUL

Innovation &
Learning Manager

Madeleine is a designer and implementer with 12 years of experience designing, deploying, and evaluating health communications, products, and services that meet the needs of diverse audiences in Africa and Asia. She has worked with governments, companies, INGOs, and funders on various health topics including SRHR, HIV/AIDS, VMMC, Menstrual Health, and infant and child health.

MADELEINE
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MADELEINE MOORE

Design Lead &
Strategic Advisor

GUNES KOCABAG

Gunes is an anthropologist/designer with 14 years of global experience designing human-centred solutions and capacity building in complex stakeholder environments. She has worked with companies, governments, funders, and I/NGOs in humanitarian and development spaces on topics covering healthcare, disability, GBV, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, HR, climate adaptation among others.

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GUNES

Research/Design Lead

Nick is a community-centered design director and innovation strategist. His 10+ years of design experience spans across healthcare, banking, social impact, behavioral health, education, social service, insurance, as well as tech sectors. He has worked alongside corporations, INGO’s, non-profits, government, startups, foundations, and academic institutions.

NICK
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NICK CHAN

Inclusive
Innovation Strategist

PRITHIKA MOHAN

Prithika brings in experience from behavioral science, product and industrial design, spanning Silicon Valley start-ups to universities, businesses and philanthropic organizations in the Global South. She utilizes systems-design, behaviourally-informed theories and intersectional approaches to design product, programs & strategies, focusing on gender, health & climate.

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PRITHIKA

Co-Director of Development

& Director of Operations

Women in Design Sprint and innovation workshop

WHAT CLIENTS SAY

"Highly recommend to anybody thinking about exploring HCD methodology in their work - particularly in a development context."

Contact

GET IN

TOUCH

Have an idea you'd like to explore? Or want to learn more about strategic innovation? We'd love to chat.

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Which service(s) are you interested in?

Received! We'll be in touch shortly.

© 2021 Margin Innovation   |   Contact us:   hello@margininnovation.com  |  +250 781 971 382

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