1.0 | UX OF SOIL
"Caring for the planet starts from the ground" Soils are incredibly resilient, but they are also fragile and can be easily damaged or lost.
Brief: Design an experience that explores the planetary soil dependence.
Team: Sanjana Mehta, Manali Panchal, Vanessa Van, YIN Ziyou(Ines)
We were expected to deliver a prototype with the requirement of using two research methods: AEIOU and Speed Dating.
We started with the research on soil values and abilities. I did my initial research and watched a nature and ecology documentary named Kiss the ground (citation). I was intrigued by the topic of mycelium ( mass of thin threads which acts as a kind of underground internet).
Further, We looked at the aspects of a natural cycle, which is everything in our lives is coming from soil and will be back to the soil. From the process of AEIOU, we wanted to get insights from two sectors.
Park
Animals and people’s behaviors.
Grocery Store
What people buy (what they eat, organic or non-organic?)
How the staffs deal with the expired food
we decided that we would meet in one of the royal parks of London, St. James Park and start with our process AEIOU (Activities, Environments, Interactions, Objects, Users). The park has a small lake, St James's Park Lake, with two islands, West Island and Duck Island.
After strolling in park, we went to our next location i.e. Marks & Spencer Food Hall
We noted down what we observed and I arranged the information in the following format :
We observed the cycle, forming in the park in interaction with humans- food- animals. Food is a limiting factor for an animal to survive. And on the other hand, we began by digging roots of random things in the food store, how they are connected to the earth. We wondered if there was a better solution for food that was going to expire.
Storyboards
The second research method that we needed to use is Speed Dating, which is to identify design opportunities by showing design idea storyboards to potential users.
Initially we made storyboard of the insights which we found after completing our previous research method.
We talked about the relationship between objects and the ground, how we can disclose our dependence on the ground. Our direction was going on the thought of how we can reveal our dependence on soil. Further, we did brainstorming on what products we use that are related to soil?
By BEN INNES (Available at www.beninnes.com)
As going forward with this idea we started thinking about deconstructing objects, disassembling products into their separate components. In order to minimize waste, and repurpose products in more efficient ways. So as to reduce the environmental waste, create a logical image. Our Prof.
Dr. John Fass made reference to a paper entitled
Soil to object relation.
After sharing the directions to the classroom we got feedbacks on how the experience of deconstruction of objects can divert us from the core of giving experience of soil itself. Our idea was revolving around getting from object to soil.
1.1 | UX OF SOIL | FINAL WEEK
Keeping in mind the soil capabilities and how we can build a link between objects and soil. We took another look at what we had with us in ideations. We started building our ideation creating an experience for people to get an understanding of how to regenerate our soil by using edible packaging and creating awareness about making compost.
Prototyping
We quickly started to define more precisely and we came up with a plan of two stages of experience, keeping our goal of raising awareness of soil in mind.
Making of Prototype
First part
We are making invisible layers visible to the audience.
Pictures clicked by Prof. Dr. John Fass
By placing their head in the structure, people will experience real life at eye level. From the outside the person can just see the top layer of the soil we usually see. When you put your head in, you see all the filled land done by humans that damage the ground.
Some Shocking Figures Of Waste Management in the UK
In 2018, 8.7 million tonnes of municipal waste sent to landfills in the UK were categorised as 'wastes from the mechanical treatment of waste', an’ and 4.4 million tonnes were categorised as 'mixed municipal waste' (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2020)
While companies like Coca-Cola reiterate that products such as plastic bottles are 100% recyclable. The issue in the UK is that more than half – or 51 million tonnes – of waste that is recyclable ends up in landfills or is destroyed. (Mace, 2018)
Second
Workshop to prepare the Ideal Soil
Instructions were posted on the wall to prepare the perfect ground for potatoes and roses. I made a few biodegradable pots from lentils and tissue myself. We gathered all the ingredients to make an ideal soil.
The steps to make this work were displayed on the wall. And at the end of the method, the soil must be checked for its temperature and the value of pH, whether it results in ideal soil.
Instruction Sheet
Pictures clicked by Prof. Dr John Fass
Learnings
What I understand after working on this brief is that what is needed right now is a proper plan, to reverse to damage we have caused in the last 100 years time. And presently the moments have been already started in the world to build a conscious planet.
Considering all the things I think our intelligence is very prone to compulsive behaviour. We must think, act, sense ourselves consciously. To bring a change or to build a conscious planet understanding of soil ability experiences needs to happen in various levels i.e. Individually, socially and politically. It's a generation's job.
Bibliography
www.netflix.com. (n.d.). Kiss the Ground | Netflix. [online] Available at: https://www.netflix.com/title/81321999.
www.ksre.k-state.edu. (n.d.). The International Year of Soils: Soils and the Products We Use. [online] Available at: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/stories/2015/10/soil-products102915.html
Soils and Products We Use. (2015). [online] . Available at: https://www.soils.org/files/sssa/iys/october-soils-overview.pdf.
Atlas Pro (2018). All Things SOIL TAXONOMY. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BArbrfmsxeQ
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/918270/UK_Statistics_on_Waste_statistical_notice_March_2020_accessible_FINAL_updated_size_12.pdf. (n.d.).