Co-Creation ReportVictoria Tai

Contents

Introduction 3

Project Intention 5

Profiles 7

ActivitiesandToolkit 10

Questionnaire 12

ToolkitBooklet 14

DataAnalysis 24

3

Introduction

AbstractThis researchwill takeplaceatEmilyCarrUniversityemploying24universitystudentsbetweenages18and25asparticipanttoco-design a reusable food container andredeveloppanefficientsystemtopromoteits usage and minimize enviromentalimpact.

Activities will generate information on apotential user’s motivations, habits, andperspectiveontheproduct.

Through collaboration with participants,wehopetogenerateafunctional,efficentandsustainableproduct thatcanbeusedeveryday.

The Strive to Sustainable HabitsWhileon itsway inbecoming“GreenestCity in theWorld” by2020,Vancouver is stillstrugglingwithlandfillwaste.

In 2015, the City of Vancouver released a landfill annual report stating that a total of1,063,673tonnesofwatewasproducedthatyear.

Thoughmorerestaurantsarebeginningtoswitchfromstyrofoamtocompostableboxes,reusablecontainersleaveamoresustainablefootprintasitresultsinzeroimpactinalongtermusage.(CityofVancouver)

Project IntentionEmilyCarrUniversityissituatedonGranvilleIsland.Knownforitspublicmarket,andartisanboutiques.Thelocationoffersstudentsawiderangeoffoodchoices,thoughfoodcourt. FoodCourtsoftenuseanefficientpurchasinganddiscardingroutinethatisconvenientforconsumersonthego.Thismentalitycreateshugeissueswithwasteprodution.Materialsdiscardedinclude:

-Styrofoamcontainers

-Plasticcontainers

-Papercontainers

Althoughtherearesomedesignsthatusebiodegradablematerial,itstillcreatesimpactasmaterialsmustbecollectedfromnaturalresources.(CityofVancouver)

5

Project Intention

Research QuestionWhat features of current reusable foodcontainerdesignsneedrefiningtoenforcetheuseofportablefoodcontainersandminimalizeenviromentalimpactineverydayroutine?

Research Project Intention This project’s goal is to understand whatis working or not working with currentreusable food containers andfindingways inimproving.Thisprojectwillbe looking intoapotentialuser’smotivations,pastexperiences,priorities,routinesandbehaviorswhilehavingthem partake in co-design activities that willcontributetoastrongerunderstandingofthefoodcontainerdesign.

A toolkit will be provided to participantsgatheringqualitativedatafromtheactivities.

Research MethodsResearch methods that willbeusedare:

-Questionnaires

-ExperienceSampling

-PhotoCards

-Interview

-3DPrototyping

-GroupDiscussion

Path of ExpressionThisco-designsessionistoguidetheparticpantsthroughapathofexpression.

Thestagesinclude:

1)SensitizingandImmersing

Participantswillbeexposedtocurrentissuesofwasteproductionandpollutiontounderstandthegoalofthisproject.

2)Activatingmemoriesandexperiences

Thoughsomeparticipantsmayrarelyuseresuablefoodcontainers,ajournalingactivitywillallowuserstocreatememoriesandexperienceswiththeproduct.

3)Reflectingandthinkingoffuturepossibilities

Throughgroupdiscussion,participantscanshareandelaborateoneachothersideasontheapproachtotheresearchqeustionquestion.

4)Translating

Allowingtheparticipantstocreate3Dformswillhelpexpressandtranslatevisualideastoresearchers.

About the ToolkitThistoolkitfollowstheSay,Do,Maketechniqueasmentionedinthebook“ConivivalToolbox:GenerativeResearchfortheFrontEndDesign(Sanders&Stappers,2013).Aquestionnairewillalsobehandedoutpriortotheactivities.

Saytechniquewillbeperformedthroughaquestionnairethatwillbeprovidedbeforetheactivites.Answersprovidedwillcontribute tounderstandingpredeterminedopinionsof this topic,andprovidingpersonalinformationonspecificaspectsofaparticipant.

Following the questionnaire, participants will complete activity 1 which focuses on sensitizing theparticipants.Throughtheuseofphotocards,thismethodwillhelpparticipantsbrainstormandreflectontheirlunchoptions.Participantswillalsobeanalyzinganddiscussingpre-existingtupperwaredesignsasprovidedthroughphotographs.

In activity 2, particpants will be practicing the “Do” Technique by recording their 5 day progress in aminimal impact lifestyle.Data collected from the journalwill be analyzed and taken into considerationfor an improved design. This acivity will help further understand the participants routines,motivationsandbehavioraswellasfindingtheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofthistaskthroughexperiencewhileobservedinanunobtrusivemanner.

In activity 3, participantswill use the “Make” techniqueby analyzing their current experiencewith theproductandfinding ideal features through3Dmodelingclay.Thisactivitywill investigateand translateaparticipant’sneedsbyexpressingvisuallyandcreatively.Participantswillalsobeaskedtobringintheirschoolbagsandanalyzetheircarryingcapacity.

Finally, in activity 4will be followedby agroupdiscussionon ideas for futureproduct designs.Groupdiscussionsareveryusefulforsharingdifferentperspectivesandelaboratingideas.

8

Profiles

Co-Designing will be beneficial forresearching this project as it helpsdesignerswithabetterunderstandingof a potential user’s thoughts andfeelingsofrelatedproducts.

ParticipantsThis workshop will be asessing 24participantsrangingbetweentheageof18and25.Thisagerangeisbasedon the lifestyle of indivituals whoare beginnign to leave home witha lower financial income and socialengagement.

Target GroupAs this research will be put towardsdevelopping an improved product,the targetgroupwillbepeoplewhogo to school or work everyday, orindividualswithbusyschedules.

Potential ClientsCompanies that will benefit them mostfrom this research would be food containerdistributors, and retail. This research willprovide key informationabout food containerdesigns through a user centered appraoch,thuscateringdirectlytotheneedsofthetargetmarket.

10

Activities and Toolkit

ACTIVITIESWith multiple contributors of thetargetedusergroup,apotententiallyfunctional, and efficialt product willbe produced that caters to a user’sneeds.

To capture all this, participants willengage in three different activitiesusing the See, Think, Do technique.(chpater3)

Toolkit MaterialsParticipantsMustBring

• MobileDevice

• SchoolBackpack

ProvidedbyResearcher

• Instructionbooklet

• BallpointPen

• Notepad

• PhotoCards

• BlockofClay

Activity 2: Activating- Lunch JournalThesecondactivitywillinvolvemakingandinteractingwithtupperwaredesignsthatexistalready. Participantswill be asked todownload amobile applicationdesignedby theresearchernamed“LunchJournal”.Thisapplicationaidsinrecordingthoughts,feelings,processandphotosoftheirlunchforfiveconsequitiveschooldays.

Activity 1: Sensitizing- Photo SortingThefirstactivitywillbefocusedonsensitizingparticipantsinlunchposiblities.Participantswillbeaskedtosortthroughaselectionofphotosoffoods,foodcontainersandutensilsintotwopiles:“Wouldhave”and“Wouldnothave”.Then,participantsaretobeaskedquestionsabouttheirchoices.

Activity 4: Translating- Group DiscussionFortheconcludingactivity,allparticipantswillmeetupwiththeresearchertopartakeinagroupdiscussionabouttheirdesignsandelaborateoneachothersideas,thoughtsandexperiences.

Activity 3: Reflecting 3D Modelling Thethirdactivitywillinvolveparticipantsbringingintheirschoolbagsandanalyzingtheirexperienceswithcurrent foodcontainerdesignsandwillbegivent theopportunity toredesignorrefinesomefeaturesusingablockofclay.

Questionnaire

1. Which of the following do you value the most a. Money b. Time c. Food d. Sustainability e. Minimalism f. Other _____________

2. Which of the following do you value the least? a. Money b. Time c. Food d. Sustainability e. Minimalism f. Other ______________

3. What kind of bag do you carry to school? a. Purse b. Tote c. Backpack d. Messenger Bag e. Other _______________ f. None of the above

4. On average, how often do you go out for lunch during a school week?

5. On average, how often do you pack a lunch during a school week?

6. Why do you go out for lunch at school? a. Being social b. Convenience c. Food tastes better d. Cravings e. Other____________

7. What is your favourite kind of lunch? a. Sandwich b. Leftovers c. Soup d. Salads e. Grains f. Other ________

8. Make a list of common items you would bring to school in a week.

9. What are three advantages when packing a lunch? What are three disadvantages when packing a lunch?

Advantages Disadvantages

CO-CREATION SESSION

ABOUTResearcher

VictoriaTai

vtai@ecuad.ca

778-886-3338

Facitily

EmilyCarrUniversity

1399JohnstonSt, Vancouver,BC V6H3R9

604-844-3800

Feel free to contact us for any questions or concerns...

Thisprojectwillfocusontheanalyzingandredesigningreusablefoodcontainers.Astheparticipant,yourroleistohelpgenerateideasandcontributeyourpersonalexperiencestothistopicthroughaseriesofactivitiesandquestionnaires.Theproject’saimistofindawaytoreduceourenviromentalimpactineverydayroutinebyavoidingdisposablefoodcontainers.

SCHEDULETime Time ActivityDiscription Date

Introduction 10minutes Discusstopicandresearchintentions.Shortbriefonactivities.

Questionaire 15minutes Participantswillcompleteaquestionnairepriortoactivities.

PhotoSorting 15minutes Participantswillexamineandsortphotosofpossiblelunchitems.

JournalActivity 5days Participantswilldownloadanappandrecordentriesforfivedays.

Productmodeling 20minutes 3Dprotoypingwithclay

Discussion 20minutes Participantswillgatheranddiscusstheirprototypes

Please fill in the dates provided at the firstsession.

ACTIVITY 1Participants will be given photo cards to analyze and sort into the following categories: “Would have” and “Would not have”. Cards will contain photos of possible meals, lunch containers and utensils. After sorting the cards, and interview will take place regarding the participants decision making process.

ACTIVITY 2Participantswillbeaskedtodownloada journaling application “LunchJournal” to theirmobile phones andrecord their packed lunches for fiveconsecutive school days. Participantsare use only reusable containers,encouraging minimal enviromentalimpact.

Step 1

Download“LunchJournal”onyourappstore.

Step 2

Set your entry reminder. (Youcan also set a lunch packing

Step 3

Whenyourentryremindergoesoff,writeabriefdiscriptionofyourlunchandtheprocessofpreperation.

Step 4

Swipe right and you’ll finda mini questionnaire to

Step 5

This process will repeat for fiveconsecutive days. You can reviewyour entries by tapping on thebookleticon.

Step 6

Tap the figurine icons to seehow other participants are

ACTIVITY 3

Participants will be asked to bring their school bag filled with their personal belongings. Together with the researcher, participants will analyze and prioritize the items in the bag.

Then particpants will be given some modeling clay to create their ideal lunch containers.

ACTIVITY 4 After prototyping, participants will be asked to discuss their designs and ideas in a group discussion.

NOTES

24

Data Analysis

PlanBecause the data collected fromtheseresearchsessionsarequalitativedata. Heavily based on analysis andobservations,thedatawillbeputintotablesandvisualdiagramsfromeachcategory.

Data RepresentationWordStorms

Afterrecordingtheparticipants’opinonsandthoughprocess,aWordStormcomposedofkeywordsfromparticipantswillhelpvisualizetheimportantqualitiesofthedesign.

PhotoJournal

Keepingaphotojournalofthesessionswillbeusefulasparticipantswillbemakingmodelsandsordingphotocards.

MappingDiagram

Anetworkdiagramwillbehelpfulfortrackingandvisualizingaparticipant’strainofthought.Thismethodwouldbeuseful for activity1bymappingout theparticipant’sdecisions aftereachinterviewquestion.

26

ProcessForthisproject,Iwantedtodoatopiconagrowingissuethatisnothighlydiscussed.IchosethistopicbecauseI’vestrivedtowardsminimalimpacthabits,theideaofareusablefoodcontainerandthinkingabouttheamountofunecessarywasteIproduceeachdayfrompurchasedfoodshasalwaysinterestedme.

Thefirstco-designactivityIcameupwithwasthephotojournaling.IprovidedmyselfajournalbookletandItestedtheactivityonmyselfandfoundthat itwasdifficultformetorecordmydataduetoitsinefficiency.Ithenmovedovertodesigninganmobileapplicationthatwouldappealtomyparticipants.

Looking through the “Universal Design Reasearch Methods”book, I though thephotocard activity would be useful as photos can tap into memories efficiently. Afterdiscussinghowthisactivitywouldapplytomyresearch,Idecidedtodothisactivitybeforethelunchjournalingasitalsohelpsparticipantsbrainstormideaspriortobeingimmersedintotheexperiencewiththeproduct.

Finally as an industrial designer, 3D modeling has always been my favorite technique forbrainstorming.Whetheritismakingafinalizedprototypeorjustexploringshapes,thistechniqueishelpfulwhentryingtoexpresscomplexideas.

Istruggledwithfindingtimetodoacompletepilottesting,findingparticipantswasdifficultduetotheshortclasstime,futhermoreoneofmyactivitiesrequried5days.

Citations

Kumar,V.(2013).101DdesignMethods:AStructuredApproachforDrivingInnovationinYourOrganization.Hoboken,NJ:Wiley.

Martin,B.,&Hanington,B.M.(2012).UniversalMethodsofDesign:100WaystoResearchComplexProblems,DevelopInnovativeIdeas,andDesignEffectiveSolutions.Beverly,MA:Rockport.

Sanders,E.B.,&Stappers,P.J.(2012).ConvivialToolbox:GenerativeResearchfortheFrontEndofDesign.Amsterdam:BIS.

2015VancouverAnualLandfillReport.Retrievedfrom http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/2015-Vancouver-landfill-annual-report.pdf