Research

Academic Papers, Publications & Reports

Figure 1: A phase-based behavioural design framework was successfully designed, implemented and assessed to effectively explore and modify cookstove-related behaviours.

Figure 2: Investigated customer preferences for improved flame-based cookstove features in South Africa.

Marcel’s scholarly work centres on advancing sustainable energy solutions in sub-Saharan Africa, with a specific focus on the strategic design and widespread dissemination of improved cookstoves. His interdisciplinary research approach integrates design thinking with behavioural insights and social marketing principles [1], [2].

Social Marketing and Consumer Preferences

His work has contributed to understanding the role of social marketing in the adoption of improved bio-energy technologies [3]. He has further investigated consumer preferences for cookstove features in South African regions, employing willingness-to-pay surveys to refine marketing strategies for stove dissemination [4], [5], as illustrated in Figure 2.

Service Design and Behavioural Goals

He has explored the application of service design principles to identify and implement behavioural goals that could boost the uptake of improved cookstoves [6], [7]. This approach signifies a shift from product-focused strategies to comprehensive service design strategies, emphasising human-centred design and observational field research.

Behavioural Change through Design Approaches

Since 2021 his research delves into the influence of Behaviour Centred Design (BCD) on the health and wellbeing of indigent households in South Africa [1], [8], [9]. As illustrated in Figure 1, he examined how BCD approaches can modify cookstove-related behaviours and address broader social, economic, and environmental challenges.

Guest Lectures & Speaking Engagements

Figure 3: Impact of digital learning platforms on design education.

Figure 4: TEDx Stellenbosch 2010.

Figure 5: Designing with Time at NID, India.

Marcel’s guest lectures span themes of design education, African innovation, and sustainable development. His talks range from digital learning [10] to the economics of sustainable energy [11]. He has presented on the competitive advantage of African design [12], [13], [14]. His application of design for social impact is illustrated in his TEDx talk [15] (Figure 4). International engagements include courses at NID India [16] (Figure 5) and exploring educational approaches [17], [18].

References

[1]

M. Maré, M. K. M’Rithaa, and A. Chisin, “Influencing motivations linked to the adoption of improved flame-based cookstoves among indigent South African households: A behaviour-centred design approach,” Sustain. Sci. Pract. Policy, vol. 15, no. 6, p. 5328, 2023, doi: 10.3390/su15065328.

[2]

M. Maré, “Influence of behaviour centred design approaches on the diffusion of flame-based cookstoves among indigent south african households,” Doctor of Technology: Design, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2023.

[3]

M. Maré and H. J. Annegarn, “The applicability of social marketing in the uptake of bio-energy based technologies,” in Proceedings of the people energy network (PEN) conference, Gaborone, Botswana: University of Botswana, 2010, pp. 1–5. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.8006433.

[4]

M. Maré, “The applicability of ‘willingness to pay’ for the diffusion of energy-efficient domestic stove technologies in the Southern African market,” in 2013 Proceedings of the 21st Domestic Use of Energy Conference, Cape Town: IEEE Xplore, 2013, pp. 1–6.

[5]

M. Maré and H. J. Annegarn, “Customer preferences for improved flame-based cookstove features in two South African study areas,” in Proceedings of the 22nd Conference on the Domestic Use of Energy, DUE 2014, Cape Town: IEEE Xplore, 2014, pp. 1–8. doi: 10.1109/DUE.2014.6827749.

[6]

M. Maré, “User experience observations with improved flame-based cookstoves among a sample of South African households,” in Proceedings of the LeNSes Conference: Sustainable Energy for All by Design, E. Delfino and C. Vezzoli, Eds., in Volume 5. Cape Town: Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016, pp. 319–332. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.8006944.

[7]

M. Maré and H. J. Annegarn, “The use of Willingness to Pay in determining customer preferences for improved flame-based cookstove features in two South African study areas,” Social Marketing Quarterly, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 335–353, 2017, doi: 10.1177/1524500417732773.

[8]

M. Maré and M. K. M’Rithaa, “Advancing a clean cookstove culture in sub-Saharan Africa: The transformative power of Afrikan innovation,” in Proceedings of the 1st Annual International Conference on Harnessing Scientific Research, Innovation And Technology For Sustainable Development, 17th-19th April 2018, Machakos: Machakos University: Machakos, Kenya; Machakos University Press, 2018.

[9]

M. Maré and M. K. M’Rithaa, “The influence of behaviour centred design approaches on the flame-based cookstove-related health and wellbeing of indigent South African households,” in Proceedings of the 3rd Annual International Conference on Harnessing Scientific Research, Innovation And Technology For Sustainable Development, 22nd-25th June 2021, Machakos: Machakos University: Machakos, Kenya; Machakos University Press, 2021.

[10]

M. Maré, The MOOCs are coming! The future of design education in South Africa. Cloudy With a Chance of Pixels Symposium, Johannesburg; Cape Town, 2014.

[11]

M. Maré, Introduction to Energy Economics Guest Lecture. Energy Studies Honours Programme, University of Johannesburg, 2012.

[12]

M. Maré, Data Visualisation: An Introduction. GCIS: Designer’s Forum, Tshwane, South Africa, 2007.

[13]

M. Maré, Design Thinking in Africa. SA Publishers Forum Annual Conference, Johannesburg, 2008.

[14]

M. Maré, Afrikan Design: Our Competitive Advantage. Network of African Designers Conference, Johannesburg, 2008.

[15]

M. Maré, TEDx – The African Stove: Food for Thought. TEDx Stellenbosch Conference, Stellenbosch, 2010.

[16]

M. Maré, Designing with Time. Open Elective Course in the Graduate Diploma Programme in Design (GDPD), 5th - 16th January 2009, NID, Ahmedabad & Gandhinagar, India, 2009.

[17]

M. Maré, Globalisation: South Africa in the Conceptual Age. Concept Design: Globalisation, Saxion Hogenscholen, Enschede, The Netherlands, 2006.

[18]

M. Maré, Complexities in Teaching Design: A comparison between South Africa and the Netherlands. WOW, Saxion Hogenscholen, Enschede, The Netherlands, 2007.