Category: Research
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Social Innovation: corrective eyewear from plastic waste
Introduction Pista Ventures, in response to a call for proposals by the Goethe Institute, initiated the Open Oceans project with the aim of addressing two critical issues: the environmental crisis of plastic pollution and the social challenge of vision impairment in children. The project proposed the innovative solution of creating spectacles for children using recycled…
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Southern Urbanism: new route development
Introduction Contracted by B&B, Pista Ventures is embarking on a pioneering urban development strategy aimed at enhancing the eThekwini Municipality’s focus on rural and eco-tourism, particularly within the Umhlanga route. This initiative seeks to leverage the area’s rich natural and wildlife resources by developing new routes for walking, cycling, and bussing, thereby creating a more…
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UX Research: Living Wage for Barista Wage Calculator
Introduction Pista Ventures undertook a pioneering UX Research project to garner more insights for the Barista Wage Calculator, aiming to address the nuanced and often contentious issue of fair compensation within the coffee industry. This tool, developed by Open Cities Lab and Black Box, was envisioned to help reconcile the diverse needs and perspectives of…
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Open Africa: a policy & advocacy expedition for the AfCFTA
Introduction The Durban Agreement on Open Africa, initiated by the World Economic Forum’s African Global Shapers community, represents a forward-thinking proposition to foster greater cultural understanding and economic integration across the continent. In alignment with this vision, Nkululeko Mthembu, the founder of Pista, embarked on an extensive backpacking journey across Africa. This expedition aimed to…
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Polycrisis: civic technology in a time of crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest and recent flooding in KwaZulu-Natal has illustrated the need for data-driven insights to help various stakeholders find the necessary information to assist or be assisted in times of need. Across KwaZulu-Natal, important information is inaccessible to the public, or is difficult to locate, retrieve and analyse during a disaster. In…
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Public Health: auditing taverns & shebeens during COVID19
Introduction Pista Ventures, known for its innovative solutions in entrepreneurial and social challenges, was subcontracted by The Hookup Dinner (THUD) to conduct a comprehensive audit of taverns and shebeens in Kwazulu Natal. This initiative was a response to the stringent alcohol restrictions implemented across South Africa due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary goal was…
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Graphic Heritage: memorialising Mandela
Pista Ventures is embarking on an exciting collaboration with the School of Design and Creative Arts at Loughborough University, Vega School of Design, , Totem Design and Nelson Mandela Foundation. This collaboration is dedicated to exploring the rich domain of graphic heritage, aiming to uncover and innovate upon the ways in which graphic design has…