Walk into the Cedat building at Makerere University and things feel... academic. There’s that specific smell of old concrete and ambition. But then you find the Design Cube Makerere University, and the vibe shifts. It isn't just a room with some computers. Honestly, it’s one of those rare spaces where the "ivory tower" of Ugandan academia actually hits the pavement of real-world problem-solving. It’s gritty. It’s loud. It’s where things get broken before they get fixed.
For a long time, people thought design was just about making posters look pretty or picking the right shade of orange for a logo. That's a mistake. At Makerere’s College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), the Design Cube has spent years proving that design is actually about engineering systems that don't fail the people using them. It’s about human-centered design (HCD). If you’ve ever used a piece of medical equipment in a rural clinic that felt like it was designed by someone who had never seen a power outage, you’ll understand why the work here matters.
What is the Design Cube Makerere University anyway?
Think of it as a pre-incubation space. Most startups in Kampala fail because they build stuff nobody wants. The Design Cube exists to stop that. It was born out of a partnership involving the School of Computing and Informatics Technology (SCIT) and CEDAT, often pulling in expertise from places like the University of Bergen in Norway. It’s a sandbox.
The physical space is designed to be modular. You’ve got whiteboards everywhere—and I mean everywhere—because ideas in the Design Cube are usually messy before they’re elegant. Students from different disciplines, like architecture, software engineering, and fine arts, get thrown into the same pot. It’s chaotic. It’s supposed to be.
They focus heavily on "Social Innovation." This isn't a corporate buzzword here. In the context of Uganda, it means looking at the maternal health crisis or the lack of cold-chain storage for vaccines and asking, "How does a person actually interact with this?"
The Methodology of the Mess
They don't just "brainstorm." They use specific frameworks. You’ll hear a lot about the Double Diamond model—Discovery, Definition, Development, and Delivery.
First, you go wide. You talk to people. You don't ask them what they want; you watch what they do. Then you narrow it down to the real problem. Usually, the problem isn't what the student thought it was. Maybe the farmers don't need an app; maybe they need a better way to tie a knot. The Design Cube forces that realization.
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Real Impact in the Pearl of Africa
Let's look at the projects. This isn't theoretical physics.
One of the big wins associated with this ecosystem involves medical device prototyping. Uganda imports a massive percentage of its medical tech. Most of it is designed for climate-controlled hospitals in Europe. When it gets to a dusty health center in Gulu, it breaks. The Design Cube encourages students to look at local materials and local constraints.
- Solar-powered irrigation sensors: Students have worked on low-cost moisture sensors that tell a farmer exactly when to pump water, saving fuel and time.
- Maternal health tools: Prototyping better ways to track patient data in wards where paper records get lost and digital systems lack consistent "uptime."
- Urban mobility: Kampala's traffic is legendary—and not in a good way. The cube has hosted hackathons and design sprints focused specifically on the "boda-boda" economy and how to make transit safer through better digital interfaces.
It’s not all sunshine and perfect prototypes, though. Funding is a constant hurdle. While the university provides the space and the intellectual backing, keeping the 3D printers running and the high-end workstations updated requires constant "grind."
Why the "Maker" Culture Matters
You've probably heard of "Maker Spaces" in San Francisco or Berlin. The Design Cube Makerere University is the Ugandan equivalent, but with much higher stakes. In the West, a maker space might be for hobbyists building a custom drone. In Makerere, the "maker" culture is about survival and economic independence.
Students here are fighting a high unemployment rate. By the time a student spends a year tinkering in the Cube, they aren't just looking for a job—they’re looking for a patent. They’re looking for a way to turn a project into a "Made in Uganda" reality.
The Architecture of Collaboration
The Design Cube isn't just about the students. It’s a bridge.
You’ll often see industry partners from the private sector dropping in. These aren't just guest lectures. Companies come to the Design Cube when they have a problem they can't solve. They want fresh eyes. They want the "Makerere brain" applied to their logistics or their user interface.
It also serves as a hub for the Design Hub Kampala network and various tech incubators like Innovation Village. It’s part of a larger web. If the Design Cube is where the idea starts, these other places are where it grows legs and starts running.
Misconceptions About the Space
- "It’s just for Art students." Wrong. It’s arguably more important for the engineers. An engineer can build a bridge that stands, but a designer makes sure people actually want to cross it.
- "It’s only for tech." Nope. They do plenty of work on physical products, textiles, and service design.
- "It’s closed to the public." While it’s a university facility, the Cube often hosts open workshops and community outreach programs. It’s surprisingly accessible if you have a valid reason to be there.
Facing the Future: The 2026 Outlook
As we move further into 2026, the Design Cube is pivoting hard toward AI-assisted design. But not in the way you might think. They aren't using AI to replace the designer. They’re using it to simulate environmental stresses on local prototypes.
Imagine being able to simulate ten years of Ugandan humidity and dust on a new water pump design in ten minutes. That’s what the current research is leaning toward. There’s also a massive push toward Circular Economy principles. Can we take the plastic waste clogging the drains in Katanga and turn it into filament for the Cube’s 3D printers? They’re trying.
Actionable Steps for Aspiring Designers and Partners
If you’re a student at Makerere or a professional looking to engage with this space, don't just send an email. Show up.
For Students:
Don't wait for a class assignment. The Design Cube is most effective when you bring your own "impossible" problem to the table. Start by attending one of the Friday "Design Sprints." Bring a sketchbook, not just a laptop. You need to be ready to get your hands dirty.
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For Private Sector Partners:
Stop complaining that graduates aren't "work-ready." Go to the Cube and sponsor a "Design Challenge." Give them a real business problem—like how to reduce churn in a mobile money app—and watch how 48 hours of intense prototyping can give you better insights than a six-month consultancy.
For International Researchers:
The Design Cube is a goldmine for longitudinal studies on how HCD works in sub-Saharan contexts. Reach out through the CEDAT administration to propose collaborative research that focuses on "frugal innovation."
The Design Cube Makerere University isn't a finished product. It’s a prototype itself. It’s constantly being redesigned by the students who use it, and that’s exactly why it remains the most relevant room on campus. If you want to see what the future of Ugandan industry looks like, look at the sketches taped to these walls.
Next Steps for Engagement
- Visit the CEDAT New Building: Go to the second floor and look for the glass-walled space. Check the notice boards for upcoming "Open Lab" days.
- Follow the Research: Search for the latest publications from the School of Built Environment and the Department of Architecture and Physical Planning regarding "User Experience in East African Urban Spaces."
- Document Your Process: If you are a student using the space, maintain a digital portfolio of your iterations—not just the final result. The "failed" prototypes are often more valuable to employers than the finished ones.