The Glasgow School of Art MDes Design Innovation Programme Studio 1 — 2014–2015
Our Team This live project involved collaboration between students from The Glasgow School of Art (UK), Chiba University (Japan) and Parsons The New School for Design (New York). Thanks to all involved!
Scotland
Catherine Farrar Textile Design
india
Mallela Tirumala Architecture
CHINA
Andy Xiao (Weizhaofeng) Product Design
scotland
Clare Bevis Product Design
Canada
Sarah Danahy Wayfinding
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Introduction Our Brief Methodology
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Desk Research + Field Work About Food Aid in the UK Research Questions Stakeholder Engagement
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Insight ANALYSIS Evidence Wall & Insights Sensemaking Summary
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Concept Development Brainstorming & Ideation Initial Concepts
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Design Solution Defining the Landscape SmartShare Conclusion
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Our Brief:
To focus on the current demand for foodbanks in the UK and how technology could play a role within this.
Working in conjunction with Toshiba, our brief was to explore food aid in the UK, whilst considering how Machine-to-Machine and the Internet of Things can contribute to social innovation by shaping people’s experiences of the arising issue of food poverty.
The Internet of Things The Internet of Things (IoT) represents a vision in which the Internet extends into the real world embracing everyday objects. Physical items are no longer disconnected from the virtual world, but can be controlled remotely and act as physical access points to Internet services. “Smart� objects play a key role in the Internet of Things, as embedded communication and information technology have the potential to revolutionize the utility of these objects. Using sensors, they are able to perceive their context and, with built-in networking capabilities, they are able to communicate with each other, access Internet services and interact with people.
Machine-to-Machine Machine-to-Machine (M2M) can be used to describe any technology that enables networked devices to exchange information and perform actions without the manual assistance of humans. M2M is considered an integral part of the Internet of Things (IoT) and brings several benefits to industry and business with a wide range of applications.
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Defining the Problem Space Due to the broad and pervasive nature of food poverty in Great Britain, we had to define the area we would be working within from the outset. Beyond the original project brief regarding hunger relief, we also saw an opportunity to explore the possible connections to reducing food waste simultaneously. The World Food Programme notes that there is enough food in the world to feed everyone – it is simply not getting into the right hands. Could the redistribution of unused goods relieve the issue in any way? From here, our objective became twofold: To discover the inner-workings of current foodbanks and their relationship to all stakeholders involved on a local level while simultaneously utilising the excess food which is wasted throughout the supply chain on a daily basis.
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Methodology
DESK & FIELD RESEARCH We first approached our brief by carrying out desk research to familiarise ourselves with the current landscape of food poverty, the present structure of foodbanks, and to identify stakeholders. We were able to gather important insights with regards to the current state of foodbanks and opportunities for innovation by organising site visits and conducting interviews with all parties involved in the complex system.
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INSIGHT ANALYSIS The next steps consisted of organising gathered data, finding recurring themes and the identifying opportunities afforded from them. Here methods included: » Generating Hypotheses » Deductive & Abductive Reasoning » Sensemaking » Analysing Data
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT The ideation process involved initial brainstorming and developing in-depth concepts addressing the issues and opportunities highlighted from our insights. “What if� questions were posed whilst considering how M2M and IoT could be utilized to facilitate connections between food, people, and touchpoints.
DESIGN SOLUTION Initial concepts were refined and final scenarios were created in relation to the brief, while considering our re-framed future landscape.
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Desk Research + Field Work
Food Poverty in the UK Food poverty is a very real, human issue. Many families cannot afford the food they need and the effects of food insecurity are becoming increasingly widespread across the UK. According to the United Nation’s Right to Food and the Food Ethics Council, the right to an adequate diet is an issue of equality and dignity, and, at the core, is a basic human right. As a developed nation, access to appropriate, affordable nutrition for all citizens is a need which is vital to address in the growing food crisis.
1 in 6
parents have gone without food themselves to afford to feed their families.
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* Statistics from Oxfam
19%
increase There has been a in the number of UK citizens hospitalized for malnutrition over the past twelve months.
What is a Food Bank?
Food bag contents The typical non-perishable food received at foodbanks includes: » Tinned Vegetables, Fruit, & Meat » Pasta, Rice & Cereal » Tea & Coffee
In the UK, foodbanks are charitable organisations that collect, sort, and distribute non-perishable food items to those in need. A foodbank is a short-term emergency solution that provides people with the basic essentials. The food to be distributed is received from donations from individuals and supermarkets. Though some foodbanks are small, independent initiatives and others are national organisations, all of them are locally based and largely volunteerrun. They tend to be located in neighbourhood centres, like a church or community centre, with limited resources and space. To ensure the donations are given to those who need it most, many foodbanks run via a referral scheme, where a user is provided with a voucher that gives them access to food aid. This voucher is created by the foodbank and can be obtained through various local care professionals (such as social workers, job centres, and family doctors). The user’s situation is assessed and are referred to a foodbank to alleviate immediate need. There is often a cap on the number of visits (usually of about three) that a single user is entitled to within a certain period of time.
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“I was malnourished and went without food or heating during the coldest week of the year.” The primary causes for food aid need are...
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“Escaping domestic abuse meant that I ended up at a foodbank.”
* Statistics & stories from the Trussell Trust
BENEFIT DELAYS LOW INCOME BENEFIT CHANGES DEBT UNEMPLOYMENT HOMELESSNESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SICKNESS DELAYED WAGES Refugees
Why is this happening? Resulting from the economic crisis that hit the UK in 2007, the number of foodbanks has rapidly increased over the previous years, and, even more so recently, since the Welfare Reform Act came into place in 2013. Families are struggling to make ends meet due to the rise in living costs whilst remaining on a stagnant income. This leaves families in financial turmoil and unable to afford the bare necessities, hence turning to foodbanks for extra help.
913,138
346,922
128,697 25,899
40,898
61,486
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Number of people fed by a single organisation — Trussell Trust
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Food Waste Food waste is a large problem in Britain where supermarkets and consumers throw away perfectly edible food every day. Supermarkets receive excess stock which becomes surplus and is discarded as surplus. Such supermarkets bring out special offers and deals encouraging consumers to bulk buy resulting in them having more food than they need. Food is then wasted in the home as it expires before it can be used.
3.9 MILLION TONNES
of food is wasted in the food & drink industry every year.
of the food we buy turns into waste.
50%
of the food sent to landfill in the UK Nearly is thrown away in our own homes.
* Statistics from lovefoodhatewaste,com
19%
Foodbanking Foodbanking is the transportation of corporate surplus food to organisations such as soup kitchens and homeless shelters. This system plays a large role in alleviating hunger by taking surplus food that would otherwise be discarded and thrown away (whether it be perishable or non-perishable) and redistributing it to organisations to feed those in need. By being involved in local foodbanking organisations, supermarkets end up saving money, as they usually have to pay a fee to have their excess food uplifted, and taken to landfill.
SUPERMARKET DEPOT
FOODBANKING WAREHOUSE
SOUP KITCHENS, ETC.
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COMMUNITY GARDEN OTHER SUPPORT
LOCAL FOOD CO-OP
FOOD
CARE WORKERS
SURPLUS FOOD
DEPOT
USER
FOOD BANKING
FOOD BANK
SUPERMARKET CHEAP FOOD
DISCOUNT FOOD
COOKED MEAL CHARITIES
CUSTOMER
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UNUSED FOOD
LANDFILL
GOVERNMENT
Food System Network In order to gain a holistic understanding of how the two sides of food aid and the food supply chain fit together, a system network map was created. This highlights the steps involved, the types of low-cost/free food available, and the current routes in getting food aid to the end user. From here, we are able to consider the categories of stakeholders we would need to engage with to gain a rich understanding of the issue.
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Research Questions As we identified stakeholder categories, we constructed a list of past, present and future questions in relation to each, resulting in a large list of issues we were curious about. With an abundance of questions, we were able to distill these into three main focus points to reference throughout the process. This approach proved useful when out in the field conducting interviews, as more detailed questions had already been considered.
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What is the User Journey? How can the system be improved? How can food waste play a role?
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Stakeholder Engagement When mapping our stakeholders and identifying relationships, we noticed that the connecting factor between almost all of the major stakeholder groups centers around distribution.
FoodBanks Care Professionals Users Supermarkets Foodbanking GOVERNMENT We were able to set-up interviews with individuals across these areas, mainly in foodbanks, foodbanking, and government, to learn from their expertise on the issue. Due to the personal nature of our subject matter, we needed to approach discussions with users with sensitivity and understanding. With ethical considerations in mind, we decided that the most appropriate method would be to simply use natural conversation and observation at the foodbanks themselves. By volunteering during drop-in sessions, we were also able to build a closer relationship while observing as participants.
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Glasgow NW Food Bank
St. Rollox Parish Church
Garnethill Multicultural Community Centre
Floorplans of Observed Interactions
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Greater Maryhill FoodBank
Everlasting Food Bank
Glasgow Foodbanks on-SITE VISITs / interviews
Visiting numerous foodbanks across Glasgow opened our eyes to the many different approaches the volunteers take in providing this service. We were able to cross-observe these unique tactics by recording the journey of the user within the space. It was insightful to experience how the methods differ between each location. The volunteers and users were very welcoming towards us, and were more than happy to engage and provide us with personal stories about their lives.
“We are trying to make it so that people are more likely to stay and get extra help where they need it... so people don’t come just for food.” “People need choices to select their food.”
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Ian McGregor Trussell Trust, Glasgow SW Workshop / Interview
As a part-time coordinator, Ian shared his thoughts on how he would like to see foodbanks in the future. Ideally he would prefer if foodbanks did not exist, as everyone should be entitled to basic food. However, if foodbanks become a part of our future system, he feels that a positive experience should be created, one where the users feel welcomed and affirmed.
“I don’t want to develop foodbanks, just bring a life change.”
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Dave Simmers Community Food Initiative North East (CFINE) skype interview
FareShare Glasgow on-SITE VISIT / VOLUNTEERING
FareShare distributes surplus food all over the country. We visited one of these organisations based in the North side of Glasgow, located in a small warehouse co-ordinated by Scott Crawford. As well as distributing surplus food to numerous organisations in Glasgow and beyond, Scott, learning from personal experience, is driven to provide his volunteers with the opportunity to build life skills and improve their lives. He also takes in tour groups of local youths, as he remembers his life at that age and wants to improve the lives of others and offer them some guidance.
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Dave is very passionate about the work he is doing at the moment in providing food aid whilst sustaining a business through buying and distributing surplus food. Dave mentioned that CFINE is currently working on creating a database to collect usage figures in the North East region of Scotland. His goal in collecting data is not to harass the users, but to gather information to then inform government policy.
“The government is banking on the voluntary sector, the churches and others, to come in and create a welfare safety net. It’s outrageous.”
“Once something becomes embedded in the processes and procedures, it just happens automatically.” Anthony Kitchen The Global FoodBanking Network skype interview
The Global FoodBanking Network helps to set up foodbanking organisations around the world, in areas where they do not already exist. They also work with the people running existing foodbanking initiatives where they may need to expand due to the demand for food. Anthony is currently working on encouraging foodbanks to bridge the gap between food waste and hunger relief. He believes that over the next 10 years, foodbanks will be integrated directly into the greater food supply chain system, where they will become sustainable.
Brad Lorge Foodbank Local, Australia skype interview
Foodbank Local is an organisation connecting local surplus food to meal programs through technology and volunteer drivers. As Managing Director of Foodbank Local, Brad told us there is huge opportunity in introducing technology into the foodbank system, to help with logistics of the running of agencies and connect with locals. The challenge is introducing technology without being intrusive of what the people are already doing themselves. He believes it’s important to listen to the people to understand what they’re doing, and let them pull the system/technology into their community in their own time.
“One of the biggest problems is getting scale. It costs a lot of money to make something accessible to the charities and to have the right people driving the innovation.”
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Councillor Martha Wardrop Glasgow City Council interview
We spoke with Councillor Martha Wardrop, a current member of Glasgow City Council, whom is very keen to introduce a sustainable food policy here in Scotland. She believes that this would help combat food poverty and encourage a sense of ‘growing your own’ within local communities. However, in order to do this, awareness of the crisis needs to be formally addressed on a higher level. Information must be shared between community gardens and foodbanks, but it still needs to be determined whose responsibility this will become.
“It’s a major food crisis we’re facing... The whole food system is fundamentally rotted away.”
Jamie Hepburn, MSP Scottish Welfare Reform Committee interview
Jamie is a member of the Scottish Welfare Reform Committee, who conducted a study into foodbanks in the UK in early 2014. Jamie was able to share with us his concerns about the rise in foodbanks in Scotland and the lack of power the local government have in helping the situation.
“There’s a sense of shame. We’re not able to do much to provide for people. But there’s also a sense of pride that there’s people in your community doing really good work.” 37
Insight Analysis
Evidence Wall After collecting a wealth of information from participants and experts, we created an “evidence wall� of the research to date and began a two-day sensemaking workshop session with Iain Aitchison of PLAN. Posting all of our findings up at once allowed us to dig deep into the content and look for emerging themes and interesting take-aways. By taking an abductive approach, we began to draw connections between insights. This led us to identify tension points and recurring themes from multiple stakeholders within our research and consider the reason behind them. From here, we were able to create a list of opportunities and objectives that these findings opened up, clearly defining the landscape to move into for concept development.
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Data Collection & Communication There is currently a lack of data collection and sharing on a local and national level regarding food aid in the UK, which is needed to inform policy and prompt change. Without proper numbers, the government will not take action. Sharing information about users would also help to give the proper care necessary to individuals.
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data Knowledge support End dependency
We want to track who is going to multiple foodbanks, so we can “identify who they might be to see if [we] can intervene constructively and break that vicious cycle.” — Dave Simmers, Community Food Initiative North East
Collecting data is “not to chase [users] or harass them, but to gather information, so that we can inform government policy. We hope.” — Dave Simmers, Community Food Initiative North East
“Not one organisation knows everything.” — Martha Wardrop, City Councillor, Glasgow City Council
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Themes:
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Identifying Genuine Use Themes: data relationships
“
Foodbanks use voucher/records systems to avoid misuse of services, however the operation is unreliable and time-consuming. Some foodbanks choose not to use vouchers to avoid the hassle and access more people in desparate need, but this generosity can also be taken advantage of.
“It’s been an incredibly hard job to... get cooperation from our partners [of small, volunteer organisations] to complete forms and post that data.” — Dave Simmers, Community Food Initiative North East
“We have no strict policies in place [to register the number of visits and record genuine need] at the moment, as it is a small organisation.” — Craig Donaldson, Everlasting Food Bank
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Technology & Familiarity Some community organisations are reluctant to adopt new technologies as they feel it will disrupt their service and remove the importance of the relationships they have built. There is sensitivity to how technology can be naturally adopted and not diminish the work currently being done.
“
support Relationships
“Organisations [are] concerned that [technology will] disrupt the hard and fantastic work that they have been doing.” — Brad Lorge, FoodbankLocal
“The social aspect is really important in keeping a community friendly. Organisations are wary about technology.” — Anonymous foodbank organiser
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Themes:
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Community Personalisation Themes: relationships Community
“
Local organisations know their community’s needs best, and individuals are keen to help others. Every neighbourhood has different issues they are dealing with. This stressed the importance of needing to create a solution which was flexible and customisable to individuals.
“We want to empower people on a local, individual level to have an impact on their community’s own hunger problem. To be internally sufficient as much as possible.” — Brad Lorge, Foodbank Local
“You have to give [the organisations] the freedom to do what they think is appropriate for the communities they serve.” — Jamie Hepburn, MSP, Welfare Reform Committee
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Foodbanking Foodbanking is a complicated process, but is an effective way to utilise surplus food and feed those in need. The manual sorting of goods and complex tracking of items from supermarkets for recall purposes are resource draining for small organisations.
“
data Knowledge
“To be clear, it is not a simple process. It’s very complex. It’s resource and energy zapping. It’s intensive.” — Dave Simmers, Community Food Initiative North East
“I used to think feeding people was simple...” — FareShare Glasgow, Manager, Glasgow
“Foodbanks have got to become a real partnership [with supermarkets]... Once something becomes embedded in the processes and procedures, it just happens automatically .” — Anthony Kitchen, Global FoodBanking Network
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Themes:
„
Conflict in Strategy Themes: SUpport SUSTAINABILITY End dependency
“
Organisations face a core conflict between their wish to close down entirely and the need to stay open to provide aid. In addition to simply supplying food as a short-term solution, there is also a need to provide more sustainable services, such as low-cost food markets and support services to end dependency.
“I don’t want to develop foodbanks, just bring a life change.” — Ian McGregor, Trussell Trust Glasgow SW
“Not only to provide emergency food... but also to create a network, so that we could refer people coming to the foodbank to get, for example, money advice, benefits maximisation support, employability support, help and wellbeing support.” — Dave Simmers, Community Food Initiative North East
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Insight Synthesis From our insights, we identified opportunities and mapped these actions through a synthesis process to see where they are situated in the system — from government to community, and inside to outside the foodbank. This allowed us to identify that, while we cannot initiate government change directly, the tracking of current usage within the foodbanks is a strong first step to take. Actions based within the community to break down barriers also became a strong area for change.
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OUTSIDE ORGANISATION barriers between food aid and general community PHASE OUT
need for charities TRACK
BREAK DOWN
who needs aid but not currently receiving aid
action INFORM & policy
CREATE
data to food aid PROVIDE organisation
community-led opportunities
SUPPORT community initatives
data to PROVIDE government genuine IDENTIFY need GOVERNMENT
PROVIDE resources +SHARE beyond food
COMMUNITY
TRACK
mutiple visits
TRACK
current users
TRACK
locations
INSIDE ORGANISATION
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CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES OF FOOD AID IN THE UK
COMMUNITY GARDEN
FOOD
SUPPORT SERVICES
LOCAL FOOD CO-OP
CARE WORKERS
SURPLUS FOOD
DEPOT
USER
FOOD BANKING
FOOD BANK
SUPERMARKET
OTHER LOCATIONS
CHEAP FOOD
DISCOUNT FOOD
COOKED MEAL CHARITIES
CUSTOMER
UNUSED FOOD
LANDFILL
GOVERNMENT
CONNECTIONS
OBJECTIVES
DATA
KNOWLEDGE
RELATIONSHIPS
SUPPORT
SUSTAINABILITY
COMMUNITY
END DEPENDENCY
Data about usage needs to be collected and shared with government to inform policy. The data of food entering the food banking system is also a complex process to undertake.
In addition to data, there is also a lack of knowledge sharing between all parties involved in the process. There is a great need to build connections and awareness on both a local and international scale.
The personal relationships formed within food banks is paramount. They are cognisant of the fact that every individual has a different scope of issues and needs.
Food aid organisations are avenues to provide other life support (career advice, cooking classes, money management, etc.) to help tackle the root cause.
In order for food banks to close, there needs to be an adjustment in attitude towards the longevity of food aid. There are other services that are able to provide food for those in need on a longer lasting business model.
Community building through food sharing and providing support for fellow community members will create a better situation for all, whether in need of aid or not.
The convergence of data and knowledge sharing with government and the provision of other support services is required to lift users out of poverty and break the cycle of dependency.
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Network connections within supply chain communication & knowledge sharing physical distribution community building & growth
Sensemaking Summary By relating the challenges and opportunties faced against the original network map, the major areas for development between stakeholders became clear. Building connections, community building, and ending dependency all remained central within our concept development.
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Concept Development
Brainstorming & Ideation At this stage, our research into the social and human stories surrounding food poverty was now combined with the opportunities IoT and M2M provides. After identifying key opportunities within the food aid network, we developed a large number of initial concepts, addressing a wide range of insights. We then combined these ideas together into several key concepts to develop further.
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when records are shared...
What if we had a user profile that tracked our needs? Users’ circumstances, nutritional needs, and location are collected in the cloud via IoT, and can be shared with organisations who require this information to assess genuine need. An individualised online profile would allow for personalisation of aid and allow support services to know what a user’s journey is over time in order to provide the necessary support to them.
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IF FOODbanks STILL EXIST...
What if your reusable bag knew your needs? Each user is provided with a reuseable smart bag. The bag has access to a person’s requirements, its own contents, and sends recipes directly to the users’ home. Recipe information can be shared between people in the community. This allows for personalised contents catered to individual dietary and cultural requirements, and provides skill building to use items efficiently.
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IF technology replaces physical foodbanks...
What if food aid came to your door? A shuttle containing surplus food travels within the community, where it is alerted of the locations of users in need. Upon arrival, the users’ identification is scanned. Shelving containing appropriate food lights up according to needs and food can be distributed. This provides access to those who are not able to physically go out to foodbanks (eg. scheduling conflicts, disability, elderly). 59
IF technology replaces physical foodbanks...
What if individuals could easily share their spare food with neighbours in need? A fridge with embedded smart technology detects expiring food and contacts the owner through their device. The information of the food can be sent to the person in need via IoT. Once accepted by the owner, both parties can arrange distribution/collection. Food is shared at a local level, which enables the connecting of neighbours and reduction of household waste. 60
IF foodbanks are replaced by community initiatives...
What if a community space would provide food & other services for everyone? This collective community space equips users with both food (a combination of donated, surplus, low-cost, and community gardens) and additional life building skills through community-led activities. These activities encourage the user to end dependency of food aid and tap local resources. By bringing together all community members under one roof, whether they need aid or not, barriers and stigmas begin to be broken down. 61
Design Solution
Defining the Future Landscape The need to reconnect people and food at a local level is growing. The current development of community food initiative programs across Scotland (such as the Community Food Initiative North East and the Glasgow Community Food Initiative) is beginning to build a model for social change, with the coming together of community members to share food and resources. This collective effort to combat food poverty and provide/redistribute goods to ensure equal access to local food is a trend we see moving forward, and a system which our proposed design service would support.
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As we are futurecasting ten years from now, we determined it was necessary to make a few informed assumptions about future infrastructure that may be in place to support the proposed service. The first is the accessibility of internet for all. Taking this as a major issue, many organisations are working on this aspect to provide a basic network for free. Efforts like Internet.org, a global partnership founded by Facebook and other technology leaders, are already underway to solve this by working with operators to provide free basic Internet services to people worldwide. These projects work under the belief that in the near future, everyone will have a home/mobile smart device, as they reduce in price and grow in necessity. Secondly, the adoption of smart packaging on food products, which will measure temperature and quality to provide accurate feedback of food freshness. Scientists and academics have been rapidly developing this technology, and projects such as the FlexSmell concept are developing sensors that detect food quality, as well as transmit this information for monitoring purposes.
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SmartShare
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INTRODUCING SMARTSHARE A service connecting people to the available food in their community. The vision for SmartShare is to create an organisational platform to address the basic human right of access to food, to facilitate the distribution of surplus food on a local level, and to connect community members to break-down social stigmas.
There are 3 strands to the SmartShare strategy: Identify: Gather information on the needs of individuals to identify and provide ongoing support. provide: Enable food aid initiatives with tools to ease their process and give tailored support to individuals. share: Connect members of the community through the sharing of surplus food, while reducing food waste from both homes and supermarkets.
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Identify: Personal Profile In order for SmartShare to provide a service based on individual needs, personal profiles must be developed. By using digitised health/government records, data will be gathered from various sources to identify the need for food assistance.
This allows for customisation for all kinds of users, drawing on their unique set of needs.
Benefits Records & Employment
Health Records & Dietary Restrictions
Language, Location, & Family Members
PERSONAL
Laura
Delayed Benefits Vegetarian
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George
Employed – Low Income 2 children Kids have peanut allergies
This information can then be fed back to support services to provide tailored assistance, a family doctor to track health issues, and to the government to inform policy on access to food.
Usage Tracking
PROFILE
Provide Other Support Services
Kate
Unemployed Drug rehab program Lives with elderly grandmother
William
Diabetic Kosher Not fluent in English
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PROVIDE: Service Scenario 1
The PROVIDE scenario is explained by layering the various touchpoints and interactions in place between a user and food aid. This service is supported with the involvement of the data cloud, a tagged bag, smart surface, the user and a volunteer. This service blueprint can be used to understand the service development and application within the structure, and deconstruct the various supporting layers behind SmartShare at each step along the way as it provides for each user. DATA CLOUD Key Benefits of service
Improving Nutrition Since the tag is linked with the user’s profile, a customised packing list can be created based on the stock of the foodbank and the dietary requirements of the user. This, over time, can be used to inform and improve the user’s health and nutrition.
BAG + TAG
SURFACE
Providing Customisation Being able to customise a user’s food package utilizes the stock in the foodbank and allows food to be allocated fairly amongst those who require it most.
USER
VOLUNTEER
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LAURA Sm ar
elc k
er
ec
Us
Ch
re
e
ha
om
tS
W
!
te
ry
na
ve
Do
eli
ck
tD
to
es
lS
qu
ca
Re
Lo
CUSTOMISED LIST OF FOODS CREATED FROM PERSONAL PROFILE & FOOD STOCK
GATHERS INFORMATION ABOUT FOOD STOCK & OPENING TIMES AT LOCAL FOODBANKS
COLLECTS RECIPES BASED ON FOOD RECEIVED
LOGGED OUT OF SERVICE WHEN BAG IS REMOVED FROM SURFACE
PERSONAL BAG PLACED ON SURFACE
PERSONALISED LIST OF ITEMS APPEARS ON DEVICE
SENDS REQUEST FOR FOOD VIA DEVICE IN THE HOME
MAKES DECISION BASED ON LOCAL STATUS
LEAVES FOR FOODBANK WITH SMARTSHARE BAG
DETECTS ITEMS PLACED INTO BAG
ARRIVE AT FOODBANK TAKES BAG & FOOD HOME
PLACES BAG ON TABLE
WELCOMES USER
COLLECTS & PACKS ITEMS INTO BAG
RECEIVES RECIPES ON DEVICE
PROVIDE: Touchpoints
Local stock check & hours to determine which location is most convenient
SmartShare APP: LOCAL AID + RECIPES The SmartShare app allows members of the community to access information about the food available in their area.
Welcome User!
Check Local Stock Request Delivery
Your local food banks: Maryhill
Tomato Pasta
Open at 1pm TODAY
Garnethill Open NOW
Scoutston Open NOW
Donate
Recipes based on food received & accessed for home use
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DATA SHARING & TOUCHPOINTS
INTERNET Health Records & Monitoring
Benefits Records
Food Expiry
Recipes
User Profile
Location & Hours
Scheduling
Food Stock
Smart Food Packaging
Tote & Tag
Surface & Device
Shuttle
Receiving User
Foodbank Organisations
Supermarkets
Donating User
Other Support Services
DATA CLOUD
PHYSICAL TOUCHPOINTS & SERVICES
Boxes
App
STAKEHOLDERS
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PROVIDE: Touchpoints Strong cotton outer with waterproof lining Lightweight Easy to clean
BAG & TAG A user can get a bag by signing up at their local foodbank or supermarket. The tag attached to the bag is then linked to the user’s profile, giving them a unique ID. The tag links to and works in conjunction with the surface in the foodbank.
The Smart Tag is attached to the lower section of the bag to be in range of the sensor on the smart surface when in use
The tag acts as a button to hold the rolled bag closed when not in use
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Sensors are integrated into the surface to detect the users tag and food labels
For Laura: Rice Tinned Tomatoes Peanut Butter Tinned Fruit Pasta NO MEAT
SURFACE
Flexible touchscreen display mat Rolled closed for easy storage Smooth wipeable surface
The Smart Surface is placed on a table at the foodbank during a drop-in session. When the bag and the surface meet, the user’s customised packing list appears on the surface. As the bag is filled, the items are checked off the list. Once the bag is removed from the surface, the user is logged out automatically.
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SHARE: Service Scenario 2
In the SHARE scenario, community members are encouraged to share unused food, while surplus food from supermarkets is also redistributed to those in need. This blueprint explains the various touchpoints and interactions that take place in order for a user to receive food aid. This service runs with the involvement of the data cloud, a SmartShare shuttle, smart packing, receiving user, donating user and the supermarket.
GEORGE
DATA CLOUD
RECEIVES REQUEST
Key Benefits of service
Reducing Waste Thousands of households often waste food that they are not able to use. By being notified of the situation through SmartShare, food waste is reduced and perfectly good food is shared with neighbours in need. By easing the food disposal process for supermarkets, food nearing expiry is able to get to those in need immediately, before it goes bad.
Breaking Down Stigmas By involving all community members in the process, whether in need of aid or not, the stigma typically associated with foodbanks begins to dissolve. The SmartShare identity can be adopted by anyone, and the connection of neighbourshelping-neighbours can bring about a mutual understanding to bring change and support.
SHUTTLE
SHUTTLE BOXES
RECEIVING USER
DONATING USER
SUPERMARKET
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SENDS REQUEST FOR FOOD VIA APP ON HOME DEVICE
SUE
GATHERS DATA ABOUT FOOD EXPIRY SENDS TO USER
DONATION NOTIFICATION SCHEDULES PICK-UP IN AREA
SCHEDULES MULTIPLE PICK-UPS IN AREA
DRIVES TO DONOR’S HOME
COLLECTS FOOD FROM HOME
COLLECTS FROM OTHER HOMES IN AREA
CONNECTS TO PROFILE TO CREATE DROP-OFF ROUTE
DRIVES TO SUPERMARKET
COLLECTS FOOD FROM SUPERMARKET
COLLECTS FROM OTHER SUPERMARKETS IN AREA
RECEIVES DROP-OFF SCHEDULE
NOTIFIES USER THAT SHUTTLE IS EN ROUTE
DRIVES TO USER’S HOME
ARRIVES DRIVER SELECTS FOOD BASED ON PROFILE
SENDS NOTICE THAT FOOD IS AVAILABLE FOR PICK-UP
RECEIVES NOTIFICATION THAT FOOD IS EN ROUTE
SCANS SMART PACKAGING TO APP
RECEIVES NOTICE OF FOOD EXPIRY
ACCEPTS DONATION ON APP
GIVES FOOD TO DELIVERY SHUTTLE
PACKS BOX WITH SURPLUS FOOD TO DONATE
GIVES FOOD TO SHUTTLE
RECEIVES FOOD
DRIVES TO OTHER HOMES IN COMMUNITY
SHARE: Touchpoints Expiring food is shown and selected by the user
SmartShare APP: DONATE Any community member can download the app and choose to donate food. The smart packaging on the food is scanned by the user (or linked to their fridge). They are notified on their device when food is nearing expiry and are then prompted to donate.
d
g e e
ing
Welcome User!
Your items are about to expire: Apples
Bananas Eggs
Pork Chops
Check Local Stock
Tomatoes
Please choose your collection time:
DONATE
8am - 10am
DONATE
10am - 12pm
DONATE DONATE DONATE
12pm - 2pm
ALERT: The SmartShare Shuttle is on its way!
2pm - 4pm 4pm - 6pm
Request Delivery Donate
The user can choose from time slots available
The user is given an estimated delivery time and informed when the food is on its way
SmartShare APP: DELIVERY community member in need A of food can request a delivery. They are given food based on their needs and the surplus food donated that day.
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Welcome User!
Check Local Stock Request Delivery Donate
ALERT: Your SmartShare shuttle will arrive at approx 1pm
ALERT: Your SmartShare Shuttle is on its way!
DATA SHARING & TOUCHPOINTS
INTERNET Health Records & Monitoring
Benefits Records
Food Expiry
Recipes
User Profile
Location & Hours
Scheduling
Food Stock
Smart Food Packaging
Tote & Tag
Surface & Device
Shuttle
Receiving User
Foodbank Organisations
Supermarkets
Donating User
Other Support Services
DATA CLOUD
PHYSICAL TOUCHPOINTS & SERVICES
Boxes
App
STAKEHOLDERS
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SHARE: Touchpoints
Lid opens from top to allow easy packing
SHUTTLE BOXES The shuttle box is made from hard, lightweight, durable plastic. The technology embedded within the box enables the contents to be read from the smart packaging. Sides folds out for ease of access inside the shuttle
Contents displayed on front screen Contents organised based on food within the shuttle
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DATA SHARING & TOUCHPOINTS
INTERNET Health Records & Monitoring
Benefits Records
Food Expiry
Recipes
User Profile
Location & Hours
Scheduling
Food Stock
Smart Food Packaging
Tote & Tag
Surface & Device
Shuttle
Receiving User
Foodbank Organisations
Supermarkets Supermarkets
Donating User
Other Support Services
DATA CLOUD
PHYSICAL TOUCHPOINTS & SERVICES
Boxes
App
STAKEHOLDERS
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Organisation Structure Building off existing corporate responsibility schemes, SmartShare would benefit from the support of corporate supermarkets to assist in the service of Donation, Collection and Redistribution. Being partially funded by a corporate organisation under a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy would help to operate the system more effectively. An engagement plan with CSR aid can assist the sustainability of cost associated with a service like SmartShare. This means that supermarkets, such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, can donate surplus food and charity funds via their Trust, and as SmartShare engages with a vast number of users, corporate image and branding will be boosted which can help to drive sales and awareness. The supermarkets could act as a common touchpoint for users to gain initial access to sign-up for the service and begin connecting with their local community.
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LOCAL FOOD AID INITIATIVES
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SmartShare
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Conclusion Until the government takes significant action, food poverty will remain a predominant social issue in need of resolution. This is a human-centred issue at its core. While technological advancements will be able to assist in the process and help to get resources to people more efficiently, the fundamental solution still lies with connecting people within local communities. Innovative tools, such as the SmartShare concept, can work to empower and enhance community action and build relationships that will eliminate social barriers and work towards ending food poverty in our future.
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Acknowledgements A very special thank you to all of our participants for providing their expertise.
Studio Facilitators Elio Caccavale Mil Stricevic
Scott Crawford Craig Donaldson FareShare Glasgow Everlasting Food Bank Garnethill Muticultural Centre Greater Maryhill Foodbank Jamie Hepburn, MSP Julie & Robert Anthony Kitchen Brad Lorge Ian McGregor Joanna Payne Dave Simmers St Rollox Parish Church Trussell Trust Glasgow NW Councillor Martha Wardrop
Visiting Lecturers Brian Loranger Iain Aitchison, PLAN Shoichi Hibi, Toshiba Aki Isozaki, Toshiba Kenta Ono, Chiba University Raoul Rickenberg, Parsons NY Special Thanks Gordon Hush Irene Bell Ian Grout Stuart Bailey Emma Murphy Prototype Development Rachael Sleight Roy Shearer