budd.e is a personal project done in a team of three, completed within a 24 hour period. It is a mobile platform for members of a community garden to connect and trade. It facilitates the exchange of home-grown food between neighbors and the care for the community garden. budd.e enhances the experience of growing food by creating a stronger community through the community garden.
Research
Slow Foods
The research was a continuation from an architecture school project. We delved deeper into the movement of slow foods and its components, and how we can view this information through the eyes of user experience designers instead of architects.
Identify
Problems and Opportunities, Stakeholders
Part of the architecture project was a site the Strip District in Pittsburgh, and we had noticed a small empty lot by the river. We researched the demographics of the area, and took time to visit the site in person to walk around, observe, and ask shop owners about their customers. We observed that the area was bustling, full of activity, smiles, and many conversations between people during the weekends, but had much less pedestrians and the liveliness and friendliness during the week. From our research, we recognized two very different demographics: there is the crowd of older folks enjoying the market scene and living in this older part of Pittsburgh, and a new group of young professionals and early families growing as Pittsburgh's job market rises in the ranks.
budd.e is a way to connect these two distinct demographics through something all people have in common: food. By using the mobile device (something that at times will disconnect us from the people around us), we created a shared platform and a place for neighbors to come together and have another reason to interact with each other.
Beyond the two demographics, we also focused on the businesses in the area, how they might benefit from this community garden, and how budd.e could start promoting a culture of slow foods starting in a very localized area.
Brainstorm
Solutions, Core Idea
We brainstormed through the needs of the users we had in mind. After going through the users' needs, opportunities, and quick ideas, we decided to design mainly for the busy, young population. Because this is a growing demographic in this area, we saw a chance to cultivate the slow foods culture through this group of people.
