Design Innovation and Citizenship specialist course project journal
Shweta Manikshetti Design Innovation and Citizenship, 2014 Glasgow School of Arts
Introduction This document illustrates the study on responsibility of designers in forming, running and designing organization. The book is so arranged that the initial part is description of the various theories that ground my project. The later part is a glimpse of how these theories have to some extent, brought into practice.
Actions form an important part of building ownership in users and in turn responsibility. My aim was to understand how ‘things’ affect actions around them, and how these things can be designed to provoke positive actions. It was my hypothesis that mainly social or voluntary organizations work at responsible design. I tested that through one local organization and a few case studies which will be described ahead.
What is Citizenship? Citizenship is usually defined as the state of being vested with the rights and duties of a citizen. Citizenship can be categorized in two parts,
Membership and Identity. Membership of a state brings with it, • Rights • Duties • Privileges • Responsibility
A citizen cannot be defined by nationality alone as religion and global citizenship do exist. Citizenship also related to identity. Which could be distinguished through, • Political community • Ethnic belonging • Religious affiliation
Citizenship is a person's conduct as a citizen
Design and Citizenship Socially responsible Design Within the design world social design is sometimes defined as a design process that contributes to improving human well-being and livelihood [Wikipedia]. In his book Design for the Real World, Victor Papernek states that designers and creative professionals have a responsibility and are able to cause real change in the world (Papernek, 1984). Another author, Victor Margolin ideates the designer’s ability in a professional way to address social problems on a larger scale. This practice could be used for social well-being, not only through voluntary work, charity or donations but through real professional contribution (Margolin, 2002). Dr. Rene Spitz, a German design critic, in an interview with the Dezeen magazine said, “Social responsibility is more important than ever. In recent years this has been forgotten.” He also said, “ Since the 1990s, design has largely concentrated on the formal aesthetic finish: elegant, eccentric, unusual, luxurious. We have failed to formulate new answers to the question of what societal responsibility is today – specifically, beyond phrases and slogans.” (Anon., 2012) The solution stated in this context was to encourage an approach to design that would help build an open minded and democratic society. “That is why they (the Ulm school) didn’t care about the design of luxury products, like an exclusive coffee set. They developed durable goods,” Such as stackable tableware for youth hostels and concepts for practical family cars, explains Spitz.
On My Street and in my Daily Life A Design Innovation and Citizenship specialist course project
Brief Locate an
Explore Organisation
organization
As a Citizen User Mark Experience.
Define as a user
Speculate future roles of a designer
North Glasgow Community Food Initiative NGCFI is a community health project based in Springburn Glasgow. Aim • To improve awareness of healthy living in Glasgow. • To have a positive impact on the health of those living in North Glasgow. • To encourage community development and cultural awareness in order to strengthen the diverse communities of North Glasgow.
Current Activities: 1.
Low price fruit and vegetable sessions,
2.
A gardening project
3.
Cookery groups
4.
Outreach work
Vision To engage people in practical and sustainable food related projects that inspire health and well-being and celebrate the diverse nature of communities in North Glasgow.
Locate…….Explore……Define……Speculate
Brief overview of organization. A research carried out by the Glasgow Asylum Rights Campaign, pointed out a need for cheap fruits and vegetables in order to encourage consumption. It also showed the need of community projects which were beneficial for the entire community. To address this, the students from Student Action For Refugees (STAR) at Glasgow University, started a project, North Glasgow Food initiative in 2001. In the first year, the organization was run entirely by volunteers. In September 2002, the project received funding from Integration Resources to take on staff to support and develop the activities. The organization then changed its name to the 'North Glasgow Community Food Initiative' and broadened its focus to include expanded fruit and vegetable sessions, a delivery service, an allotment project and cookery activities. In September 2005, it became a Company Limited by Guarantee with Charitable Status. In October 2009, NGCFI and Milton Food Project merged. In March 2010 they were benefited from a Third Sector Enterprise Fund grant from the Scottish Government. In 2011 they began ground works at our community garden in Milton, soon wining an award for sustainable working. In June 2012, NGCFI launched Healthier Eating Royston Experience funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
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Work As a community health project run by staff and volunteers with the aim of improving awareness of healthy living, NGCFI works across the following 1.
Fruit and Vegetable Service
2.
Garden Project
3.
Cookery Work
4.
Youth Groups cooking kits for hire.
5.
Weaning project
6.
Outreach work
Initially, started with vegetable and fruit barras, community gardening in allotments, cookery groups and healthy eating awareness raising activities, NGCFI has also been involved with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to: • support parents and pregnant women develop cookery knowledge and skills in relation their babies; and • make the best use of the Healthy Start scheme vouchers and vitamins by providing a programme of cooking and information sessions to eligible families.
The organization also assists in work related to the objects in Scottish Government Health Directorates Chief Executive Letter (CEL) for improving nutrition for families living in disadvantage. The weaning and cookery project encourages good maternal and infant nutrition by increasing parent’s basic cooking skills, knowledge and confidence.
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Vegetable and Fruits Barra
As illustrated above, NGCFI receives funding from the government which they use for maintaining staff and buying vegetables and fruits in wholesale rate. These are then delivered to the community where they would be sold. The Organisation acts as a facilitator by only providing material and place. They innitailly have their own people work on the stalls. By the second or third session they manage to get people involved and take initiative for better facilities as well. The selling and management is done by these volunteers from the same community. They even implement innovative ideas for encouraging people to buy this food provided in subsidized rates.
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Existing innovation Gift Ideas For Mothers day 2014, the volunteers made and decorated fruit baskets. The raw material was sourced by one of the resident volunteers in the area. The volunteers made these baskets together. This is a brilliant example of getting people to work in tam, to build ownership towards community and the people who stay in it, take pride in doing good for someone else. It was specially made for encouraging people to spend money on healthy stuff instead of other sweets or gifts. The fruit basket proved to be a hit, and people like both aspects of it, making and buying.
Schools Some parts of our city are very backward in terms of availability of fruits and vegetables and the inclination to buy them. People in these areas are not bothered to eat vegetables or fruits and some of them don’t even know some of the vegetables. It was shocking to know that a mature women did not know cauliflower. To cater to such people, spread awareness and reach out, NGCFI visits schools and meets parents who come to pick their kids. They then set sessions there. It was found that these sessions were very helpful to busy parents and ignorant ones as well.
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Benefits Paul, 50 This man joined the NGCFI as a volunteer 5 years back, and has been working with them since then. He now works as a gardener and driver is paid buy the fund. He says he is very happy working here. His health has improved due to gardening and eating well. He keeps fresh and he does not feel he’s 50. When asked what the future of his profession would be, Paul said that gardening and community service had so many benefits, it would gain popularity.
Opportunities Underprivileged people can buy vegetables as they are sold at cheaper rates. For areas which don’t have supermarkets, these barras bring food almost to their door step. People can come and have a little chat at the barras. Volunteers get educated about food.
Achievements 100s of local people benefiting from cost price fruit and veg at 8 venues. One third of volunteers are asylum seekers or refugees. Volunteers benefit from quality training. 2006 winner of Dame Sheila McKechnie award for community food initiatives. Locate…….Explore……Define……Speculate
Community Garden
As illustrated above, The gardeners, compost person, volunteers work together in allotments provided by government. They also invite anybody who wants to garden and speacially local public for participation. The sessions are held once or twice a week. As the gardens are in development phase, the produce is not in the quantity to sell in barras. But the NGFCI plans to use the community garden produce to sell in the barras. Thus people work for their own benefit and get results in shorter time spans. This process is also transparent and hence imbibes trust and long term relation with people.
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Community Garden
Gardening sessions welcome anybody who wishes to participate. Special sessions are held for school children. In the Liddlesdale Square garden, illustrated above, is in development. A rabbit and deer proof fence was constructed. Social spaces and teaching spaces are also in place. Local children planted in the beds. Local volunteers, have designed and built a number of raised beds with adjoining walkways which will be wheelchair accessible.
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Need and functioning
As a part of developing the garden, Sue, a local gardener at Liddlesdale square plans to include garden therapy in this community garden. This idea comes from the fact that every person is different and has different needs. The design of a garden should be able to cater to such diverse needs. • Individual gardening areas for people who want their peace or are bad in social skills and want to relax. • Communal spaces for group gatherings or gardening. • A space to share and enjoy the produce. • A space for gardening education.
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Consensus design
While planning the use of allotment at the Liddlesdale square, a study of ‘which facility is needed in this specific area’ was made. This is called consensus design. The idea is studying what the site wants. Identifying the mood of the place, understanding its landscape. If the site were to speak what would it say? This process reveals a wealth of information about a site, information upon which all those involved depend.
Future possibilities for design in this org. This organization clearly works for the common man, with the help and initiative of common man.
Due to the various health problems that society is facing, and the way people are becoming aware of the hazards of commercial food and products, these kind of organisations would succeed with conviviality. The participants and volunteers in this organisation were pleased that they were a part of it. They empathize for people who cant have the basic requirement of fresh food.
Future possibility. Understanding the limitations of voluntary and non profit organisations, and the dire need for community services as well, these community initiatives should become main stream work fields. On a Small scale • Building community gardens in schools and having children learn not only to care for their piece of garden but also the skills of gardening leading to long term skill development. • Scheduling sessions according to the local public instead of generalizing it. • Reach elderly people in old homes. • Tackle the language barrier.
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I would thank North Glasgow Community Food Initiative for providing me a deep insight in their organization, and being extremely kind and helpful. I would also thank our tutor Ian Grout for being patient as I slowly try to grasp the study and project.
Shweta Manikshetti Design Innovation and Citizenship, 2014 Glasgow School of Arts