My initial approach to the brief was by mapping, letting flow all my thoughts and knowledge of the subject and everything related. I chose to work on the brief called “Make something disappear” which is about reducing the negative impact of any product or designing a way of doing without it always taking in account the possible consequences. I started analysing why it is important to deal with this issue and the current situation. I wonder what, how and why do we waste, how do we manage waste globally, individually and legally. I also mapped about other existing products or systems that were created with the aim of making something more sustainable and weather they work effectively and why.
During this process of mapping I spotted one simple daily habit that generates a lot rubbish. It was the habit of drinking on the go using disposable paper cups what called my attention.
Doing desktop research I discovered that there are products in the market trying to solve this problem. Those products are different models of reusable cups. I investigated how these cups might be used and created a scenario about it. It also was part of my investigation to get to know the position of the coffee shops, the companies creators of these objects and the potential users in this matter.
Beside the desktop research, I talked to an employee in a coffee shop to know what do they do when a client goes and asks his drink to be served in a reusable cup and to a company that created and sells one of this cups which is, in my opinion, one of the most practical and complete in the market right now.
In order to know about the user/client position, I tried myself one of the reusable cups and talked informally to friends and other people who uses the same and other reusable cups. I also enquired people through a questionnaire about their current habits and the idea of using reusable cups.
The idea of designing a reusable cup better than any other in the market came to me early in the project but as the time went by it seemed something not worthy. It was because it is very difficult to satisfied every costumer needs and requirements in just one product. I think that there are existing products that cover what the different consumers think are the most important aspects so they can choose what suits them best.
On the other hand, it seemed more important and necessary to make people aware of the unsustainable of the habit of drinking on the go using disposable cups and that there are ways of not making such a waste. Consciousness-raising is the key here. It is also important to motivate coffee shops to help with the promotion of reusable cups by pointing out that they can save the money of the paper cups with their lids and the possibility of gaining more eco-conscious costumers. In the same way, costumers may get discounts or rewards from those coffee shops plus the personal satisfaction of doing something good for the earth.
At certain point of working on this project I was asked to create a schedule with the organization of my work flow. I have never done that before that moment. I organized myself in an informal way, not noting it down and without planning from the beginning the whole period. It was hard for me to do so as I find difficult to put in words the different stages of the design process but I now see the benefits of it. It makes me realize better of the time I have, the position I am in and to identify the tasks I have to perform. I am going to try to create a schedule for any future project to avoid finding myself without knowing what to do next. I think that to totally avoid those moments is very difficult but at least they can be reduced by researching and experimenting actively even when a good solution doesn't appear close or clearly.
During the project I confirmed how important is to talk with other people as, for example, something that is very obvious for the designer may not be such for another person no implicated in the project.
General speaking, to work on this project has been a very good experience that has made me more aware of the design process and how I am as a designer.
Reference list
Cups
April The Age Melbourne Magazine Page 34
Coffee shops
Tou Jours
The Breakfast Club
Costa Coffee
Starbucks
Caffè Nero
Look Mum No Hands!
Others
The artist Chris Jordan pictures some shocking statistics:
Why coffee lovers are polluting New Zeland:
One business taking responsibility of its own cups:
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