Mar 2024 - May 2024 | 6 weeks
FoodSwap
A sustainable community pantry with an intuitive app system that provides a platform for students to share, exchange, and access food items within their college dorm floor.
Sustainability
UI/UX Design
Prototyping
Project Type /
University Individual Project
Brief
Collaborate with a team to develop a product-focused service design concept addressing key sustainability challenges.
Team Member Roles
Di Nguyen - Lead System Designer
Varshini Chouthri - Lead App Designer
Brandon Burlison - CAD & Rendering Modeler
Researching College Waste
According to the National Resource Defense Council,
22 million pounds of food is wasted annually
on college campuses across the U.S.
Source: “College Students’ Impact on Food Waste.” Food Waste, CCC Writing Program, n.d., http://www.foodwaste.
cccwriting.org/college/#:~:text=In%20the%20US%20alone%2C%20about,them%20to%20do%20about%20it.
BrightStream Receptacles
$278.85
Big Belly
Trash Systems
$3,500 - $4,100
Toter Blue
Recycling Bin
$69.98 | 4.8/5 stars
Recycling
Signages
Price Varies
Existing solutions are
expensive & lack a sense
of community
Interviewing College Students
We interviewed college students from various universities to understand their experiences
with food waste and recycling, uncovering key challenges they face in their daily lives.
Peggy Thai
21 years old | Uni. of Houston
"Recycling on campus is confusing; it’s hard to know what’s recyclable."
Kimberly Umana
21 years old | Texas A&M
"During dorm move-outs, lots of food and recyclable waste ends up in the trash."
Trinity Jackson
21 years old | Uni. of Houston
"Limited resources and a busy schedule make dorm sustainability challenging."
Sophia Luo
20 years old | Pepperdine
"Food waste is a big issue; better recycling systems could help reduce it."
Noah Hawkins
20 years old | UH Student
"Recycling in college is confusing, and there’s no incentive for students."
What's the Main Problem?
College students often face challenges with food waste in dormitories, leading to unnecessary disposal of edible items and contributing to an increase in environmental concerns.
What's the Design Goal?
Design a sustainable solution that facilitates the exchange of surplus food items among dormitory residents, reducing food waste and fostering a sense of communal responsibility.
Group Ideation Sketches
Food Waste & Recycling System Exploration
“Recycling” Group
These solutions help reduce food waste through dorm room recycling, using smart bins and tech.
“Composting” Group
These solutions address food waste in dorms through composting, with setups and donations to gardens.
“Sharing” Group
These solutions tackle food waste in dorms through food sharing, including apps, donation bins, and community pantries.
Refining Top 3 Concepts
After gathering user feedback on various ideas, we narrowed it down to three top concepts. We decided to move
forward with the Community Pantry, as it best promotes community and incentivizes student participation.
Smart Composting Bin
Refined Concept 1
The Smart Composting Bin, made for dorms and campuses, promotes sustainability by allowing compost donations to local gardens.
Food Sharing Community App
Refined Concept 2
The Food Sharing Community App connects dorm residents to share excess food. It fosters community and supports waste reduction.
Community Pantry
Refined Concept 3
The Community Pantry allows dorm students to share food with app-based tracking and rewards. The staff ensures the pantry's cleanliness, promoting sustainability and waste reduction.
Final Concept Storyboard
Community Pantry & App
For our final Community Pantry concept, we added a fridge section for perishables and placed a pantry on each dorm floor to enhance safety and limit sharing. An AI food verification system was integrated for security. Users can now scan their ID cards for easy access. The rewards feature remains, and resident advisors will manage pantry cleanliness, in line with their responsibilities.
Community Pantry Exchange
Sustainable Rewards Program
Inventory Management System
Community Pantry
CAD Model Refinements
The pantry refinement features a colorful design, hidden groove handles, separate fridge and pantry doors, and a card scanner to access the pantry.
Fabricating Mock-Up Prototype
To create the pantry mock-up prototype, we purchased a shelf with a glass door at IKEA, painted it green to match the design, and 3D printed a card scanner.
The Small Food Hub on Every Floor
Connecting Dorm Communities Through Sustainable Living
Exploring User Perspectives
Three Main Personas
Emily
22 years old | Female | College Student
"My busy schedule leaves me with unused groceries piling up in my dorm."
Value Proposition: Community Pantry Exchange
Rachel
20 years old | Female | College Student
"I struggle to stay motivated to be
sustainable with my busy lifestyle."
Value Proposition: Sustainable Rewards Program
Jeremy
22 years old | Male | College Student
"I’m tired of constantly cleaning up after residents and their mess."
Value Proposition: Inventory Management System
FoodSwap App
Walkthrough Based on User Scenarios
Sign-up and Log-In
As a Student or Resident Advisor
Add Excess Food to Pantry
Through the Community Pantry Exchange
Students add their excess food items by snapping a photo for AI verification, inputting details, and scanning their ID to unlock the pantry.
Take out a Yummy Snack
Through the Community Pantry Exchange
Students are notified via the community reel when new food is added and can visit the pantry to take specific items they want.
Redeem Rewards & Prizes
Through the Sustainable Rewards Program
Students earn points for their contributions to the pantry, which can be redeemed at the campus market, bookstore, thrift store, or arcade.
Dorm RAs Manage the Pantry
Through the Inventory Management System
Resident advisors check the pantry weekly, removing expired or spoiled items to ensure freshness and safety.