Social impact success story: "Any winning design has a social dimension!"
In 2016, Barry Koperberg and his humanitarian project 'Wings for Aid' won the iF Public Value Award (now the iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE) for his drone system for supplying remote areas. Barry didn't expect what came next: Two iF DESIGN AWARDS and so much more for a good cause!
Barry Koperberg's story is a true social impact success story on so many levels and for such a good cause: In 2016, his 'Wings for Aid' project and his drones to deliver food and water to remote regions won the iF Public Value Award (now the iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE). After a fruitful collaboration with VanBerlo (today Accenture) in the Netherlands, he even won two general awards - the iF DESIGN AWARD 2021 and 2024! In the interview he tells his inspiring story.
Barry, can you tell us how you first came in touch with iF Design and why you participated in the former iF Public Value Award?
Barry Koperberg: From the start of the project, Industrial Design experts suggested that this was not about a novel aircraft as such, but more a brand-new delivery system. VanBerlo (now Accenture) came aboard and introduced me to the world of iF Design.
What was the concept of the drones all about and the beginnings of Wings for Aid? Did it all just start with iF Design? How did the award help?
The project started when I, occasionally, listened to the radio and heard that a humanitarian professional had great difficulties to get goods into a country. He said, literally, ‘if only I had a fine-mazed distribution system’. Aware of drone technology, and novel sustainable aircraft designs, I proposed the University of Delft to design and build cargo drones for humanitarian use. They found that a brilliant idea but suggested that this was more a complex entrepreneurial challenge than a scientific one. After consultation of knowledgeable and well-connected friends, I decided to make this my midlife project.
Barry Koperberg
Wings for Aid, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Barry Koperberg is the founder and CEO of Wings For Aid, a Dutch social enterprise that develops and launches a UAV service for humanitarian aid and the transportation of medicines to remote areas. He is passionate about innovation and organizational complexity. With an MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management and extensive experience in public/private change management, he leads a mission-driven coalition that aims to reach people everywhere within 72 hours.
What motivated you to start Wings for Aid instead of going into business after your MBA? Why do you want to help?
I actually worked as a consultant for many years, specialising in public-private partnerships. With this opportunity, it felt right to take on the responsibility of getting it off the ground.
What are the main challenges when setting up an NGO?
Wings For Aid is a foundation but not an NGO as such. We deliver services through tendered contracts, in collaboration with local operational partners. Like any other business: stick to the core idea and don't get too distracted. But make sure you engage with relevant stakeholders and keep them on board. Budgets are crucial, don't overspend and keep an eye on the next phase.
Wings of Aid has evolved over the years, and a major innovation was the AI-powered camera system for humanitarian aid, which won the iF DESIGN AWARD 2024. How did this come about? And why did you enter this project for the award?
Our mission is to 'reach people everywhere', which is a pretty bold ambition if you take it seriously - which we do. We realised that we needed IT systems to reduce the workload of people in the system, and the Digital Drop Zone Assistant is one of them. It makes life easier and safer, while ensuring accurate registration of deliveries - important for transparency and accountability. VanBerlo/Accenture designed it in a way that we thought would win an iF DESIGN AWARD.
Wings For Aid Drop zone tool
iF DESIGN AWARD 2024
The Drop Zone Tool is an AI-powered camera system that detects the presence of people within a drop zone used for the aerial delivery of boxes of relief aid. When an aerial delivery is incoming, the tool alerts people to vacate the drop zone, while scanning and communicating the presence of people to the incoming plane. This ensures that boxes are dropped only when it is safe to do so.
MiniFreighter Cargo Drone
iF DESIGN AWARD 2021
This cargo drone safely drops 8 boxes of 20kg each with pinpoint accuracy. The first of its kind, it reduces operational costs, mitigates risks, and maximizes operational efficiency. This design optimizes aerodynamics and usability for ground staff. Operated in flocks, the so-called MiniFreighters deliver tons of food, shelter, or medical supplies in a 250-km radius.
What do you think: How does Social Impact and Design relate to each other?
Any winning design has a social dimension as it changes how people live, work, experience – while not exhausting natural resources. So the two are twinned by nature.
How do you connect with other organizations or regions/countries, where Wings of Aid is in use?
We work closely with United Nations (Rome, New York), and Red Cross (Geneva) which both have world-wide presence. For service delivery, we work with local operators where we act as OEM/Fleet owner and trainer. With the demonstration and UN acceptance program completed, we stand ready for the first actual contracted project. We have five aircraft operational and plan to grow to 50 in the next years.