Air Quality in Delhi, India
Researching, Dissecting, and Mapping a Wicked Problem
Overview
Air pollution in Delhi, India, is one of the most hazardous issues that the developing nation is facing in the current day. Through our gigamap, we encompassed research and intervention and recommendations and developed an understanding of the numerous relationships between the individual elements in this system. Designed for our “Systems” class, the gigamap shows our process of researching, mess mapping, and three horizons (short term and long term effects of the potential solutions). The layout of the gigamap was informed by identifying patterns and categorizing problems, allowing us to define the broader problem and tackle it effectively. The map outlines how to affect positive change in the different categories within this system through various interventions. Through a STEEP analysis, we found that this is a wicked problem because there is no definable solution and it must be approached from a variety of leverage points. Through this process, we learned how strategic solutions and design thinking play a role in intervening in a wicked problem such as air pollution in Delhi and how designers can use these tools to help bring about a positive change to an increasingly complex world.
Project Duration
4 weeks
Collaborators
Max Stockdale, Yash Mittal, Shaoting Yan
Tools
Adobe Illustrator, Figma
My Role
Made illustrations that relate to the project’s theme; Designed the giga map layout; conducted secondary research to understand the problem space; proposed solution through the three-horizons model; finalized stakeholder analysis.
Map
Our gigamap organizes the information into six sections: introduction, feedback loops, mess map, three horizons, interventions, and the impact of globalization. The viewer should approach our map by first reading the introduction and feedback loops to gain a general understanding and breakdown of the wicked problem. Then examine our mess map, three horizons, and interventions recognizing the problem on a more complex level to grasp our approach to intervene over time. Finally, the viewer should read how the wicked problem ties to economic globalization. (Viewers should refer to the key to understand the relationship between various factors in the map).
