Collaboration platform for sustainable & democratic city planning
Service & Industrial Design
Umeå Institute of Design
10 weeks, 2019
Team work with
Manuel Hess
Collaboration with Husqvarna Group
Background
Until 2030, more than 60% of the world’s population will live in increasingly crowded cities. The rising demand and need for living spaces make greenery disappear from the city, as we built concrete jungles around us.
Not having enough green spaces around us is not only proven to be linked to physical, but also mental health issues.
Concept
Bento includes modular greenery and a digital platform that encourages citizens to get informed and be involved in shaping the cityscape.
This platform will also be used by professionals like city-planners and scientists to fund and conduct research to improve the aforementioned issues.
How will our cities look like in ten years?
Over Populated Cities
Until 2030 more than 60% of the world’s population will live in increasingly crowded cities.
Worse Air Quality
The rising demand of living space and car centric city planning leads worse air quality …
Loss of Biodiversity
… and loss of biodiversity as a result of this.
Mental Health
It is proven that lack of greenery has a negative impact not only on physical but also on mental health.
But luckily, awareness for these issues is also rising!
This is why we believe that it is a community effort to combat those changes.
Now there are more and more people ready to take action and contribute to make a change.
And that there is a need for a transparent and inclusive way to create a greener city.
Identifying Stakeholders
Who needs to be involved in the decision making process?
What do they need?
1.Municipality
Understanding the needs and demands from the citizens.
Identifying & Implementing the solutions.
2.Researchers
Data and funding for research projects.
3.Civilians
Improved life quality (easy access to green spaces, clean air)
Understand & improve their impact
What?
Democratize decision making
Empower citizens to take action in shaping their environment
Expose needs and knowledge of scientists and researchers
Create scalable, tailored and resource efficient products
How?
Bring every stakeholder to the same table
Create more inclusive tools and transparent solutions
Creating mutually beneficial relationships
Accessible, easy to use digital configurator and use harvested data to optimise projects.
1. Modular Greenery
Self-sustaining Modules
Solar cells and a rainwater tank connect to the plug and play modules, which would be available in either 500x500 mm, 500x1000mm or 1000x1000 mm for more flexibility and ease of use on larger surfaces.
Custom modules like insect hotels or beehives can be configured and added as well.
Creating an ultra low maintenance and highly resource efficient irrigation system.
2. Digital Platform
Choose Goals
“I want to improve my neighbourhood!”
Configure Modules
“I can build my own custom greenery, tailored to my goals.”
Create Greenery
By just dragging and dropping
“I can re-green facades, abandoned parking lots or other spaces.”
Vote for Others
“After publishing my draft, others can vote for my proposal to be realised.”
Crowdfunding
“I can also help scientists to fund their important research on sustainability related projects.”
Heatmaps
“If I’m a researcher, I can get live feedback and quantification on my research data.”
before - after
Improving the quality of life in your city is now in your hands, too!
THE PROCESS
Problem Analysis
Our research phase started with understanding the future of cities and the UN sustainability goals.
We have interviewed citizens from different countries, all around the globe to identify the pain points. Insights showed that there was a need for quality green spaces in urban environments to feel “nature”.
Sketching Ideas & Service Blue Print
By creating service blueprints, we explored different workflows for the stakeholders and defined the interactions & touchpoints on a digital level.
Expert Interview
with María Rosario García-Gil
Forest Tree Genetics from Umea Plant Science Center
-“Cities have a lot of unused potential to preserve biodiversity.”
-Getting funding is hard.
-There’s to get more exposure and recognition
-Researchers can benefit from civilians input (feedback, problems,...)
Ideation Workshop
6 participants from IxD programme, divided in 3 groups
In this group workshop we asked the participants to take the roles of each stakeholder to identify how they would ideally like to interact with one another and what their needs and wishes would be.
User Testing
Gathering feedback on several touchpoints to test the service & interaction.
