Free Food
Waste Free
Solution
Service design
Time
2023.8-2023.11
Role
Communication design
Team
Supakarn
Manilitphone
Kate Chen
Jelly Yang
Problem
RUSU(RMIT student Union) organizes the free food event attendees to enjoy the food and music, but lots of package and food waste made this not so perfect.
we believe small changes can make a big difference in the whole system.
Solution
Embracing the core principles of the circular economy, our approach revolves around the creation of circular events, addressing the pressing issue of packaging waste while elevating the overall event experience.
FREE FOOD WASTE FREE is an innovative strategy design for RMIT free food event.
Research
What is RMIT free food event?
The RMIT Free Food Event provides students with complimentary meals, including breakfast and lunch, featuring fruits, yogurt, hot dogs, and occasional special dishes, while addressing food accessibility and sustainability challenges.
The above two illustrations are the food provided in this event, and the following are the garbage found during our field investigation
The free food event at RMIT generates a mix of organic and plastic waste. Including discarded banana peels, apple core, disposal, plastic yogurt cups, and brown tissues. Waste management remains a challenge, with organic waste like fruit peels and non-biodegradable items such as plastic cups and juice bottles contributing to the event’s environmental impact.
Analysis
Who are involved?
We draw a general stakeholder map of the relationship between the participant organizer and the manager based on the second-hand survey data.
The RMIT Free Food Event involves multiple stakeholders. Students and visitors are the primary attendees. Organizers include RUSU, RMIT, and their supervisors, along with clubs, volunteers, and sponsors. Vendors supply food, while the Sustainability Committee and RMIT Activator contribute to event management. Secondary stakeholders include the Victoria local authority. Individuals like Riley Tonta, Caitlin Phillips, and Julian Newman are involved through interviews.
Understanding the problem
This is where we map the user journey based on the attendees' current experience. In this way, we find the pain points and touch points of the users and propose our design opportunities based on this.
For the pain points listed below, we decided to focus on the pain points caused by packaging and food waste. At the same time, we think it is very necessary to raise the awareness of users, so we want to raise the awareness of participants to reduce waste step by step through creative visual communication.
Data visualizing of interview and online survey
In the process of questionnaire survey, we found that the participants had a low awareness of avoiding food and packaging waste, and they had a high participation in interesting activities, but they were more willing to reject troublesome and time-consuming activities.
Concept
Innicial concept
We formulated our preliminary plan, which is mainly divided into four aspects：Reusable station, customized food portion, waste separation, eco packaging and tissues.
Experience the future at our Circular Free-Food Event, a groundbreaking initiative to combat packaging waste and climate change. Through our sustainable practices, including reusable packaging, edible alternatives, and natural composting, attendees are immersed in an eco-conscious atmosphere. Our mission: to raise awareness and instill a sustainable mindset. We offer easy access to our services while ensuring the joy of the event remains unaltered. Join us in reshaping festivities, fostering environmental awareness, and embracing a greener tomorrow.
Test
Mock event
We conducted a small-scale mock free food event to test our initial concept and identify potential issues.
while students appreciated sustainability efforts, practical barriers like hygiene concerns, portion flexibility, and unclear instructions hindered full adoption. Many found the initiatives fun and informative, but some struggled to integrate them into daily habits. Enhancing communication through clearer signage and interactive elements could boost engagement. Addressing storage concerns and refining portioning guidelines could improve user satisfaction. These insights help refine the concept for a smoother, more effective implementation.
Final result
Final concept
According to the feedback of our previous concept,
We changed the container bank strategy to bring ur own container compain. which is feasible for both standard events and special events. and to promote this compain we also added the interactive wall to appealing people to bring their own container. instead of feed the worm directly, we changed it to collecting the waste and feed the worm in worm garden.
We designed the food menu to address food waste caused by confusion about meal contents. Additionally, we created a photo booth for attendees to capture moments and share our creative designs on social media. This approach makes our sustainable circular event instantly recognizable while expanding its reach. By leveraging social media, we foster a sense of community and inspire others to adopt sustainable practices.
Additionally, we designed a digital version to attract more engagement and promote food waste reduction. By simply scanning a QR code, attendees can instantly access the day’s menu. We created two regular menu options—pizza and tacos—reflecting the event’s offerings, making it easier for participants to make informed choices and reduce unnecessary waste.
We also designed a specialized compost bin for the campus to make composting more approachable by reducing the discomfort some people may feel about worms. The bin not only provides an efficient composting system but also supports plant growth by utilizing nutrient-rich compost. The middle section is designed to optimize the fermentation process for organic waste, ensuring effective decomposition. Additionally, we will include an educational poster on the bin to inform users about what worms can and cannot eat, promoting better composting practices.
We created a collage to visualize how the event might look in a real setting. By blending digital illustrations with actual campus photos, we aimed to depict interactive elements such as refill stations, compost bins, and food waste reduction initiatives.