What can creativity do in the fight against malaria?
That's the question Ije Nwokorie, CEO1 of brand consultancy Wolff Olins, explored at WIRED by Design. It centers around a new initiative called Code M, which aims to keep malaria a high-profile issue during this crucial last push to its elimination.
During a one-day Code M workshop, a group of designers brainstormed products to protect African kids from being bitten by mosquitoes at night. A few ideas: playful figurines that soak up liquids where mosquitoes breed and easy, pop-up mosquito nets for sleeping outdoors.
These are just early concepts, but they embody a crucial dual-role Code M is aiming for. It wants to develop products that address malaria-related problems that also can appeal to first-world consumers. The idea is to raise awareness of the issue everywhere, just as Product Red, another Wolff Olins project, has done for AIDS. At this point in the fight, Nwokorie says, "you have to engage people and really make this something that they become a part of eradicating. When I hear that, my brain just goes, 'well, that's a creative challenge.'"
1UPDATED 1:45 pm PT 12/09/14: This post was updated to correct Ije Nwokorie's title.
