No soil?

I've settled down with the idea of the little green kit. It's quite scary, considering I only have one month left til the presentation. I need to quickly make experimental trials, model, refine and then prototype more.

I've listed down the components of the design idea, and what I need to do for each:

a). Package itself / Vessel:
- explorations with forms to find a way to make package BECOMES the vessel
- material: explore suitability and availability of any bio-degradable materials

b). Greenery:
- seeds ("somehow" can be included in the package as an idea of a gift)
- locate local sources to test trial suitable types of plants to present

c). Growing medium:
- can't give the users soil: it's too freaking heavy!
- what can I use to replace soil? consultation with techs!

d). Instructions:
- This will have to wait til the package design is finalized

Thinking.. outside the box

EVENTHOUGH, I try very hard not to fall into the trap of making a planter design.. when I looked at my sketches, it still only provides a space, volume, and place to put plants into. I want to stay away from making a conventional planter design.

So, let's try thinking about how to integrate interactions, and a sense of ritual engagement into my design.






I like the idea of "little green kit"
it's like presenting the user with a package that allows them to grow the plants immediately, conveniently, and easily. I think it would work even better if the package itself can become the vessel that displays the greens.

little green kit Idea Development

Making a little green kit, I will need:

1. materials that can hold water, BUT can also be self-assembled (or flat packed) by users.

2. greenery, so people can actually engage in the process of growing greenery

3. growing medium, to allow users to interact with it without any other materials they have to acquire additionally

4. instructions, on how to use it, how to assemble it, and the idea behind the product


I want to integrate materials that are bio-degradable so the design can communicate the theme WITH the medium itself. Since the topic is so closely related to nature, and our environment, I want to be able to relate to that using not only the form of design, texture, material choice, as well as any other sensual impacts.

Sketching Time!

Doodling most of the time.. but these are some of the concept examples I came up with, based on all the possible ways / locations the design can fit into users' life styles.

Establishing Design Methods

In order to address my topic with design methods, I try to come up with different ways I can tackle the issue.


1. Irony / Satire - contradicting common perceptions of gardening
(ie. high maintenance, hippy. challenging, time consuming, etc.)

2. Humour - where can you see GREEN in your space that will make you think?

3. Senses - Stimulate sensual impacts using sense of touch, smell, vision, etc.

All these approaches are valid and effective if use appropriately. The directions I choose will determine how I will approach the problem, and come up with a visual form.

Criteria Breakdown

After finishing with design brief, I started a series of literary explorations, using words and descriptions to define what I want to achieve with my design. These descriptive criteria and detailed factors are mainly based on information gathered throughout my research process. Such as what people prefer to have, how they prefer to use the products, where it may be used, and what would it be for.

I try to provide a visual reference, something that would portray the concept of these factors.

Design Brief

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been compiling the research results from different methods of research to put together the Design Brief. I'm still trying to define more specifically regarding some of the project criteria. Time's ticking fast though, a lot of work still ahead. I need to narrow down my focus ASAP, to get into the design phase.

The Design Brief can be viewed HERE.
Changes and additional info might be added as the project progresses.

MOBY Visit

Thursday afternoon, I visited the community garden MOBY (My Own Back Yard), originally started by ECU ID graduate Jason few years ago. The community garden is located on 11th and commercial, with approximately 30 plots, and 5 accessible plots for seniors, people with disability, pregnant women, and etc.

Tina, was generous and extremely helpful. :) I was very fortunate to get her feedback and suggestions on my research and design directions. She mentioned, as an urban gardener, the reasons for self food production are much more than simply reducing food cost, but rather, to regain the connection with nature, the pleasure and gratification of being self-sufficient.

People don't seem to know where their food come from anymore. We take food for granted. We choose to ignore, and neglect the process which it takes from farm land to get to our dinner plate.

This makes me re-think about my project. Providing a design solution that enables urban agriculture is NOT enough.. it takes a lot more for people to change their behaviours than simply presenting them what's possible. I want to be able to communicate the gratification, the satisfaction, and the pride which urban gardeners like Tina value, to people that have yet to decide to participate in such activities.

Lately I've been focusing on developing my Project Design Brief, which will be uploaded in the next post. This is a milestone, marking the crossing from our analytical phase, to the chaotic, yet innovative stage.. :)

1st Hand Research Study Report & Project Focus

This week's class included a 5-minute presentation from each student on research study results and project directions. It's pretty damn exciting to see all the different research methods incorporated. The probing method was contradictory in terms of purpose and focus, but fascinating in terms of feedback and responses of the users.

My 1st Hand Research Study Report can be found HERE.


The following 2 weeks will be dedicated for information analysis and data organizations, in order to put together the Design Brief. I still need to figure out a clear and effective way to present my data in a measurable presentation. Perhaps a graph, or a diagram would be useful.

After meeting with my instructor, Tom Bechor, I started to re-think about my project. Tom mentioned, it's critical to define the THEME, FOCUS, and MEDIUM of my project. By determining the differences and the definitions of each, the design criteria and my approach will be clear. What is my theme? it can be well-being.. gardening.. food production.. or even sustainability. Maybe, gardening in a limited space is ONLY the medium of my project, in order to communicate my theme of well-being. However I define it, will definitely determine how I approach this project. Honestly, this is the first time since I started this project, that I'm starting to think that the final solution can go WAY beyond balconies, patios, or window counters.. maybe, it can even be an installation piece? a performance?

Strathcona Community Garden Visit

On Sunday morning, me and Jhon visited the Strathcona Community Garden in downtown for some documentation and a short interview with the General Coordinator Mark.

Luckily, it was the monthly work party day for the community garden, so a lot of people came out to work on the space for some harvest/cleaning. We were both very amazed to see something like this to be promoted and practiced by a collective community.

During the interview, Mark explained a little a bit about the organization and history of the garden, the commitment expected of each participant, and also gave some general tips on designing for gardening spaces. The community garden was divided into different sections - individual lots, herb garden, compost area, espaliers, and the fruit trees area.

It's my first time visiting a community garden, I must say, I find the garden space and the work that has been put in over all these years truly admirable and inspiring. It's very reassuring to see people in the local community participating in such activities. This validates our concepts, and the growing demand of design developments dedicated for such users. It is up to us now to come up with ideations and concepts for higher convenience, better organizations, and more suitable solutions to integrate with users' own living spaces.

My Own Little Green

For the purpose of research, I've decided to approach my 1st hand research process as a potential user. While planning my interviews and focus group session with participants in different fields of expertise, I also want to put myself in the position of the user, and experience possible concerns, and difficulties included in the activity of gardening.

I went to the market, and got myself a Little Green- a small pot of Basil plant.
My LG was initially plotted by the NHS industries in Langley, and brought to Vancouver for sale and distribution. By doing so, I also met Beverly, a nice lady who sold me my LG, who was extremely generous and helpful. She was nice enough to put up with my non-stop questioning. She agreed to participate as a professional consultant throughout the project. This is something really unexpected, yet extremely valuable and appreciated.

Even with just one small pot of basil, a serious amount of work is still required to ensure proper growth. I have no previous experience of gardening, other than growing red beans on cotton beds back in elementary. Over the next couple weeks, I will have to feed my LG with compost, separate bunches for more root space, and continue my regular watering schedule.
Hopefully, this little pot of basil, will give me tons of first hand experience, and continue to grow happily and beautifully.

Urban Underground Farming (Japan)

Pasona O2

An underground urban farming facility in Japan originally created for the sake of providing employment opportunities for Japanese citizens. However, the project has definitely grown to focus more on urban farming using artificial lighting. The whole facility is divided into 6 different sections, dedicated for different types of produce/plantations- flower field, herb field, rice field (second image), fruit & vegetable field, vegetable field, and seeding room (top image).

Eventhough this idea is quite different from the focus of my project, it's still a very inspiring concept. :)

One thing that concerned me was the fact that an extensive amount of artificial lighting was required to put into the project in order to maintain growth. On the note of sustainability, this will end up consuming too much energy.

"In the absence of sunlight, the plants are sustained by artificial light from light-emitting diodes, metal halide lamps, and high-pressure sodium vapor lamps. The temperature of the room is controlled by computer, and the vegetables are grown by a pesticide-free method in which fertilizer and carbon dioxide are delivered by spraying. Hydroponics, in which plants are grown in water and hardly any soil is used, is one of the methods of cultivation used in the facility."

The article on this urban farming facility can be found HERE.

High Density Vertical Growth (HDVG) Garden by Valent

An urban agricultural design precedent I found on TreeHugger. Vertical Gardening inspired by Victorian times' narrow and multi-storied architecture. Designs like this maximize space efficiency without sacrificing productivity. Especially in the 21st century, where resources and spaces are greatly limited, this definitely counts as a great inspiration. :)

The report and written content for this design can be found HERE.


* Produces approximately 20 times the normal production volume for field crops

* Requires 5% of the normal water requirements for field crops

* Can be built on non arable lands and close to major city markets

* Can work in a variety of environments: urban, suburban, countryside, desert etc.

* Does not use herbicides or pesticides

* Will have very significant operating and capital cost savings over field agriculture

* Will drastically reduce transportation costs to market resulting in further savings, higher quality and fresher foods on delivery, and less transportation pollution

* Will be easily scalable from small to very large food production situations

Sustainable Community Presentation

As a part of this fall's curriculum, I joined 4 other Emily Carr peers for a Co-op Directed Studies with a very inspiring scholar, Herb Barbolet. This really is a one-of-a-kind opportunity, to be able to work along side with a few individuals I very much respect, addressing such a critical issue on a global scale.

Herb is a leading food activist who devotes an enormous amount of time and effort to raise awareness on issues such as community development, energy conservation, sustainability and most importantly, Food Security. He is the founder of Farm Folk, City Folk (Vancouver local community for urban agriculture development), and has also directed/founded various non-profit organizations of community developments.

This last Saturday, me and two other team members sat in on his presentation of food security for an intensive course on sustainable community development (SFU). It's a good background research for my grad project.. made me re-think about coffee and sugar for sure.

The summary of the presentaiton is as follows:

The increasing need of food security validates the idea of urban agriculture. Herb's presentation articulates the problematic trend/situation existing in the current food industry. In order to improve the sustainability of food production process, local food production along is NOT enough. Instead, we must incorporate a well-thoughtout local food system align production and distribution.

Thanks to the thoughtful Jon for video-taping the speech. Unfortunately, the tape ran out 20 min prior to the end. But this shows a good deal of the presentation focus.
The presentation clip can be viewed at the following link,

Herb Barbolet - Sustainable Community Presentation at SFU (Sept. 20)

Capillary Action Drainage Pipe Design

One of the professionals I contacted is Dolores Atlin, from Evergreen. Evergreen is a national non-profit environmental organization which promotes sustainable living in 3 aspects - public space community development, school ground developments, and home landscape.

Dolores is one of the Learning Grounds professional consultants located in Vancouver area. I first approached her hoping to obtain some simple suggestions and research directions for my project. Dolores was extremely helpful and generous. I was very grateful for the fact that she called personally to provide verbal feedback and suggestions despite of her hectic schedule.

The image above is an example of a mini-size urban agriculture using the theory of capillary action provided by Dolores. The drainage pipe acts as a rain water collection system for the plants. It's shows a different way to re-think about how plants may be implemented in an urban space.

1st Hand Research Plan

In order to gather information for the specific focus of this project, I put together a 1st hand research report, using Focus Group as my primary approach.

The following is some of the written content in my 1st Hand Research Plan:

1st Hand Research Plan

1.0 OBJECTIVES

To gather information relevant to development of modular unit design, dedicated for urban plantations in limited spaces. The focus is to acquire an adequate amount of knowledge towards different aspects of project development, including psychological factors, environmental factors, market analysis, production materials, and cultivation methods. The research plan is organized into primary and secondary research process, which focuses on acquiring different aspects of relevant information for this project.


2.0 INTENTION

2.1 Opportunity & Need

As global urbanization continues, a significant amount of population is gradually shifting to adapt towards urban lifestyles and living environments. The problematic issue of food security and sustainability call for vital change in people’s attitudes and lifestyles. The emerging opportunity is to dedicate research and information gathering on development of a design solution, catered to address this imminent problem.

The majority of existing precedents and previous efforts on this particular subject dedicate its focus on community development and large-scale changes. Therefore, research and solutions are often based on resources and capabilities of a collective community. However, this graduation project hopes to address this design problem starting from the individual level- to initiate small-scale of behavioural change, in order to build up collective awareness and efforts. As a result, research focus will be devoted to information gathering on the micro-level of the community population.

2.2 Explorations

Explorations will be employed on previous works and existing precedents to learn about potential design approaches. Also, research will emphasize on possible range of incorporations associate with users’ lifestyles and living spaces. For instance, what type of urban agriculture would be suitable and beneficial to the users, while addressing the project focus?

2.3 Descriptions & Predictions

In order to develop a practical and applicable design solution, one must establish an adequate amount of knowledge in regards to types of target populations. Observations and information gathering will also contribute in descriptions of user demographics, users’ environment restrictions, preferences, lifestyles, and behavioural patterns.

2.4 Evaluations

The objective is to acquire an understanding of aspects in psychological and motivational factors of the target users, dedicated to the focus of this particular project. This involves evaluations of behavioural patterns, living conditions, interaction methods, and individual preferences. Also, through information gathering process, the project focus will be evaluated for its validity and practicality of current need of target users.

3.2 Subject Focus

A). Cultivation Methods: Composting methods, Water collection system, Irrigation,
Ventilation methods

B). Agricultural Applications: Types of suitable plants, growth factors, use of fertilizers,
pesticides

C). Production Materials: Appropriate sustainable material options, local availability

D). Environmental Factors: Local weather conditions (Ex. humidity, temperature)

E). Market Studies: Social collective knowledge, conception, economic factors

F). Political Constraints: City bylaws, building regulations


4.0 Focus Group

To gather information from experts and target users for research, the use of focus groupwill be incorporated in the research process. The idea is to collaborate with experts inrelated fields for discussion, information inquiry, and project consultations.

A). Directed Discussions-

To intiate discussions on specific areas such as:
Individual needs, ways to incorporating urban agriculture, possible
implementation in living spaces, design requirements & desirable functionality

4.2 Setting

Gathering of 6-8 subjects with a range of expertise relevant to research focus (Ex. urban residents, agricultural industry professionals, sustainability experts, industrial designer, and interior designer) in a closed environment for an one hour session

4.3 Instrumentations

Tape Recorder
Notebook
Directed Discussion Topics

4.4 Procedures

1. Select list of individuals (6-8) for focus group research execution from contacts of professional experts, urban residents, and design professionals
   
2. Contact individuals to inform intentions, and schedule suitable session time for participants
3. Acquire permission of participants to record research session using electronic devices
4. List out relevant discussion topics for directed discussions
5. Execution of focus group research session
   
6. Review and combine information from focus group, interviews, and observations
7. Organize data into categories including professional expertise, user preferences, user behaviroual patterns, design criteria, design constraints, and environmental considerations
8. Data analyses, evaluation, and design brief development
   

Work Plan Development

To organize my time just a tiny little bit better, I made a work plan outlining different phases, deliverables, and relevant tasks involved throughout the project.

The work plan can be viewed on the following page,

A LITTLE GREEN WORK PLAN

As the project goes on, the work plan might be subjected to change..
Simply cause, things just hardly ever go as we planned.

Pod Collaboration & Project Proposal

:)

Part of the project planning phase, is using PODS to collaborate with other students who might be working in similar fields of interest. One of my very inspiring peers, Jhon Mozo, happens to be working on urban agriculture for low-income community, so the two of us will be working together in the research phase to gather info and share data.

I've developed a much detailed project proposal over the last week.
The following is a summary of the written content in the proposal.

PROJECT PROPOSAL - A LITTLE GREEN

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Opportunity

As our society advances rapidly in telecommunications, transportations, and technological developments; we celebrate the urban lifestyle for its convenience, comfort, and diversity. However, more than often, we find ourselves cornered by the negative traits of this way of life. The hectic work schedule, pricy living demands, and cramped living quarters greatly affect the quality of lifestyle, causing desperate need for serenity, relaxation, and re-connection with nature.

As people become aware of their quality of living, efforts on improving health, living environments, and mental state slowly become more crucial and valuable. More and more individuals become conscious of global concerns of sustainability, and availability of local food production. Due to existing restrictions of living spaces, one often compensates lifestyle with limited availability and resources. Therefore, the design opportunity of developing a suitable and practical solution dedicated to fulfill such need is surfaced.

1.2 Personal Relation

Being an urban resident myself, I encounter problematic issues such as lack of functional space, isolation from nature, inability to practice urban gardening, and limited decoration options. These factors ultim¬ately affect the quality of my lifestyle, and also significantly limit my ability to customize my living space. This in turn brings about my idea of creating the opportunity for individuals to customize space with modular “green design.”

The graduation project stands as a representation of my learning over the years in design. It represents a statement of my intentions and future focus as a designer. I want to make use of this opportunity to address my personal and global concern of sustainability by introducing a practical and suitable design solution.

1.3 Philosophy

As the issue of sustainability becomes progressively critical, we as participants in one of the leading economic communities must embody such principle by actively participating in the change of our lifestyle. This urban green unit strives to address a global concern, while suggesting an appropriate solution to suit the needs of the market. Such designs may utilize the ability to improve air quality, offer opportunity for food production, as well as to provide a sense of nature in urban environments. At a time when consumerism dominates our culture and lifestyle, such design promotes versatility, possibility of customization, and global awareness.

2.0 GOALS & OBJECTIVES

2.1 Goal To improve the quality of urban lifestyle and living environments by providing the opportunity to integrate modular agriculture units

2.2 Objectives

a). To acquire a thorough understanding of target users’ lifestyles, needs, behaviours, preferences, and environmental restrictions.

b). To introduce plantation units maximizing space efficiency and modularity

2.3 Educational Goal

To perform as a professional industrial designer in aspects of self-discipline,
collaborations with others, and independent explorations

2.4 Educational Objectives

a). To develop independence and self-discipline in time management
b). To customize a relevant and thorough research plan
c). To collaborate with professionals in agrology, gardening, and interior design for technical consultations and research development
d). To improve technical skills for idea visualizations, such as sketching ability,
prototyping, computer modeling, and graphic presentation

2.4 Assumptions

a).The public IS becoming more conscious of the issue of sustainability.
b). Assuming a modular unit for urban plantations will bring awareness and
opportunity to engage in urban agriculture.

3.0 SCOPE

3.1 Project scope

The project explores issues from why such design is needed, to how, and what needs to be implanted. The project examines topics such as material studies, idea explorations, product usability, and market research. More specifically, in-depth research will be conducted on focuses such as modular form explorations, interior space integration, sustainable material options, methods of plantations, user behaviours, and development in simple water collection system. It will also contain research in types of suitable plantations for urban agriculture for the benefit of users’ knowledge. Excluding In-depth research on the use of fertilizers, composting methods, use of mechanical elements

3.2 The problem space

People who embody urban lifestyles come across limitations in space and time to implement agriculture in living environments. Their reluctance is often based on misconception of agriculture as time consuming, messy, and complicated. My initial research focuses on validation of the need for urban agriculture in the local community. I have conducted short interviews and discussions with urban residents regarding plantations and food productions in their living spaces. Also, I have visited local community gardens to observe current and upcoming activities in place.

3.3 Collaborators

Rob Barton (Architect, urban resident, green space lover)
Ward Teulon (Agrologist, Founder of CityFarmBoy)
Kirstie McCallum (urban resident, experienced gardener)

3.4 Organizational Collaboration

City Farm Boy (Local community designs & builds urban vegetable gardens)


4.0 Process

a). To develop a realistic and effective work plan with specific time frames
b). Acquire a thorough understanding of target users’ lifestyles, needs,
behaviours, preferences, and environmental restrictions.
c). To conduct a thorough market research plan on current design precedents,
material selections, and types of plantations applicable for such design
d). Research and acquire understanding of suitable environmental factors for
urban agriculture, including types of plantations, temperature, water
requirements, sun exposure, and etc.
e). To collaborate with professionals in agrology, gardening, and interior
design for technical consultations and research development
f). Development of modular unit based on ideations and research
g). Integration and development of a suitable water collection system
h). Employ prototyping to visualize and to evaluate design concept
i ). Improve design concepts by integrating findings of prototyping stage
j ). Finalize design concept and material selection

GET A LITTLE GREEN!

Hi everyone! This is the first entry of my little green blog dedicated to the graduation project in Emily Carr. Throughout the next couple months, I will continue posting project updates and wicked finds.
The idea is to provide a thorough and detailed project documentation for discussions and reviews.

Feedback are definitely welcomed! I would love to hear what everyone has to say.


First, a little bit about WHY little green.

I am a graduating student, joggling between school and work on a daily basis. Despite of a convenient downtown apartment, with my hectic schedules and limited living space, I feel more and more disconnected and isolated from everything else. Instead of simply adding something pretty for temporary satisfaction, I want to incorporate something that not only improves the aesthetics, but also reconnect with nature and balance - something that others in similar situations can benefit from as well.

A LITTLE GREEN, is an idea, to re-connect people with their environments, food, and quality of lifestyles. A modular, and versatile solutions, catered to a share need of the common population. It is my goal to develop a design solution that addresses the current issue of sustainability, by bringing a little awareness of individuals.