We met with part of the team at Proximity Designs last week. Proximity Designs produces products for rural Myanmar farmers; everything from product concept through to manufacturing happens locally. We were stoked they were swinging by Cambodia, and we spent a day exchanging our experiences, aspirations, and ideas around development in South East Asia.

In particular, we were keen on learning more about Proximity's experience building a culture of design thinking practices in their local team mates. How did the design methodologies the team leaders employed in their product designs affect their efforts to create a cohesive multi-cultural team? How does the methodology change to incorporate the cultural norms that exist in Myanmar? How did aspects of our methodology that piggy-back on cultural norms which already exist in western team mates morph?

The other part of our day and evening was spent learning more about the rapid pace of change in Myanmar. Hearing Aung Ko Ko, their senior product designer, speak of his conviction to be an instrumental part of his country's change was awe-inspiring. Here is someone who is dedicated to his country. He, as a maker, has found ways to affect change across industries. Their team is not only creating products that make people's livelihoods better, but their team is also paving the way for a new way to think in Myanmar.