We are delighted to announce that for the fourth year, incoming students can apply for the Paul Polak Scholarship from MFA Design for Social Innovation. Paul has been a friend, adviser and inspiration to our program, and to the millions of people around the world whose lives he has changed through his work to end…
Paul Polak
The Legendary Paul Polak Speaks at DSI
Paul Polak has brought nineteen million people out of poverty, practiced human-centered design before anyone ever heard of it, and pioneered new techniques for market creation among rural farmers in Africa and Asia. He is also a dear friend and mentor to DSI, and on our Faculty at Large. A master at designing affordable technologies…
Paul Polak’s Work Inspires a Powerful Thesis
Pragya Mahendru, ’17, came to DSI to “equip herself with the tools necessary to take her ideas from prototypes to meaningful system change.” While here, she was inspired by the master of system change, Dr. Paul Polak. Paul’s life has been dedicated to helping over twenty million people move from poverty to the middle class,…
Jade Broomfield: This Year’s Winner of the Paul Polak Scholarship
“To me, design is simply creative problem solving with a dash of zanyness. I continue to be inspired by the work accomplished at the Design for Social Innovation Program at SVA and the creativity of people like Jade Broomfield, who is receiving the scholarship in my name. Jade, may your future zanyness far exceed mine.” — Paul Polak
A Scholarship from DSI to Honor Dr. Paul Polak…and You, Maybe?
Paul Polak is a social entrepreneur and designer who has brought twenty million people out of poverty. He may be the most important social innovator of all time. At over eighty, he’s still founding companies that will help millions. He’s an important friend and mentor to the DSI program, and every year we give a…
DSI Announces $10,000 Paul Polak Scholarship for 2014
We are delighted to announce the Paul Polak Scholarship from MFA Design for Social Innovation. Paul has been a friend, advisor and inspiration to our program, and to the millions of people around the world whose lives he has changed through his work to end poverty. This $10,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student…
Big Impact through Big Business – Uncovering Paul Polak’s Approach to Poverty
Originally posted on the Business Civic Leadership Center Blog From a business standpoint, poverty has been a lousy investment. But one of the most resourceful businessmen of our time has set out to prove that when you know what you’re doing, there’s a multi-trillion dollar marketplace waiting to be had. Paul Polak is the root…
How Poor Farmers Can Harness Solar Energy to Power Irrigation Systems
Our friends at Out of Poverty have developed a solar-powered irrigation system that has the potential to improve the lives of millions in the developing world. They are currently running an Indiegogo campaign to help fund the testing and manufacturing of these units.
Paul Polak
Paul Polak is the founder of the Colorado-based non-profit International Development Enterprises (IDE), which develops practical solutions that attack poverty at its roots. For the past 25 years, Paul has worked with farmers around the world—in countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Nepal, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe—to help design and produce low-cost, income-generating products. His innovative solutions,…
