SPEDAGI PROJECT: Social Design and Distributed Production Exploits Local Natural Materials

This project promotes a geographically distributed manufacturing that exploits local renewable natural materials instead of contemporary industrial production systems that consume a large quantity of material derived from fossil such as plastics. Furthermore, this project tries to develop and exploit the products in order to tackle social issues that local communities are faced. Spedagi is a coined word that combined morning with cycling in Indonesian. This project was initiated by Mr. Singgih Kartono, an Indonesian’s world-famous product designer. Material used for bicycle is bamboo that grows naturally all over the country. This renewable natural material that grows quickly and is provided abundantly has been used traditionally for building materials and daily necessaries. Although in the past bamboo bicycles have been also made all over the world, most bicycles had a characteristic of crafts-like production and it probably had better call it a work of art in terms of performance and price. However, Spedagi bamboo bicycle has been adopted an industrial production method and developed the design that is possible for medium volume production. Moreover unique point of this bike is that its use and role have already determined. That is, the riders must perambulate local community in order to find issues and its solutions through conversation with locals. Bicycle is also proper because sometimes, they have to run to the scene, so that cars won't be flexible and walking will be slow. Spedagi bamboo bicycle is developed as a means of social design.

There are two projects according to target sites. The first project is to participate in Spedagi Project in Indonesia (January 2015 – Ongoing). The second project is Spedagi Japan Project (April 2015 – Ongoing).