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Waste to Wealth
In this Lextant Certificate Program called Methods of Contextual Research at SCAD, we learned how to create future-oriented research methods that can be applied to any type of project. A team of 5 from different backgrounds, with majors, we wanted to create a different vision through this opportunity to explore clothing made out of agricultural/Food waste, a revolutionary material to reduce the waste from the fashion industry. Our goal was to understand consumer mindsets and the barriers to the widespread adoption of these materials.
This project was created as an entry for the BioDesign Challenge.
Deliverable
Timeline
10 Weeks
Settings
Group project with Aditi Balapure, Disha Goyal, Neha Reddy Alle, Tanya Kar
Objective
We were given ten weeks to use the content learned in Human-Computer Interaction and apply it in a UX-based project focused on child's screen time. We had full freedom to direct the project to touch in any way drastic research data to present the topic we choose.
The Problem
Fast fashion gives us a variety of styles and convenience, but it has a huge impact on the environment due to excessive use of chemical materials and excessive production.
Our Approach
To investigate people's perspectives and views on eco-friendly clothing made from agricultural waste, and collect data for future eco-friendly projects based on our research.
Environmental Impact on Fast Fashion
Video by MTV Impact
Changing focus on comfortable consumption of fast fashion and design with inclusive buying habits for environment in mind.
We felt the need to remind ourselves of the limitless consumerism in fast fashion clothing and its impact on the environment.
Textile is not only filling our clothing rack, but also filling the land
Our initial assumption starts
Textile pollution has progressed rapidly due to the rise of consumerism in buying fast fashion and its generalization.
From United Nation Enivornment
Defining stakeholders to understand not only our targets but also how it impacts other people for goods.
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We found it significantly necessary to adopt environment-friendly fabrics and found our passion in Materials made out of Agricultural or Food Waste.
Online Survey
After initial research about how fast fashion impacts our planet and the current eco-friendly clothing manufacturer process and its technology, our team sent out an online survey to get a better sense of why people are buying fast fashion and their perspective on eco-friendly clothing made out of agricultural/ food waste.
Our insight
The demand for eco-friendly clothes is higher than for fast fashion. But users are saying there are barriers that make them hesitate to wear them. This is what inspired us to look at eco-friendly clothing as an opportunity to further promote it.
“I tend to buy fast fashion, but I'm trying to shift to a sustainable alternative.” (105 Responses)
"I do acknowledge that it’s time we all become conscious of global issues and support sustainable products for the future of this planet. Hence, we need to get more aware and change our lifestyle and purchase preferences accordingly."
"I would prefer to buy textile which is natural and environmentally friendly."
"I truly believe if you talk about sustainable clothing, they tend to become a little higher in the price which shifts the customer perception from sustainability to luxury. I think we should work on its price and make it more pocket friendly."
"I became a very conscious shopper in the last couple years. I only buy second hand, sustainable outdoor clothing and rarely other certified brands."
Interviews
After we had some quantitative data from the survey, we started to make interview settings to gain more in-depth voices about clothing made out of agricultural and food waste from people. We interviewed 20 users who are interested in and already purchasing sustainable clothing, and 5 experts in sustainable industries to ask about the current trends and future.
Our insight
Higher demand and expectations for eco-friendly clothes are able to find through interviews with experts who work at eco-friendly clothing companies and various age-ranges interviewers who currently consume fast fashion. At the same time, it was also possible to understand whether various factors make users hesitate to purchase eco-friendly clothing. This is the motivation for us to see it as an opportunity and opportunity to inform people of a new perspective on eco-friendly clothing.
Cultural Probe at Forsyth Park (Savannah, GA)
After we had some quantitative data from the survey, we started to make interview settings to gain more in-depth voices about clothing made out of agricultural and food waste from people. We interviewed 20 users who are interested in and already purchasing sustainable clothing, and 5 experts in sustainable industries to ask about the current trends and future.
Our insight
The demand for eco-friendly clothes is higher than for fast fashion. But users are saying there are barriers that makes them hesitate to wear. This is what inspired us to look at eco-friendly clothing as an opportunity to further promote it.
We asked our participants to write a ‘Love or a Break-up Letter’ to Fast Fashion, which received the maximum attraction and generated creative heart-based responses!
Virtual Sensory Cue Workshop
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We conducted a Sensory Cue Workshop to understand the user’s ideal experience of Perceiving, Deciding, Selecting, Buying, and Wearing Clothes made out of Agricultural / Food Waste. The theme of this workshop was
that of a Virtual Store!
Our insight
The demand for eco-friendly clothes is higher than for fast fashion. But users are saying there are barriers that makes them hesitate to wear. This is what inspired us to look at eco-friendly clothing as an opportunity to further promote it.
Affinitizing our Data Points
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Data Points
Affinitization
From the wide range of responses, we were able to find dynamic insights:
Many people that chose not to go to college started a family as their next step. A majority saw a lack of community resources, especially for family education and activities.
Design Framework
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We design the framework based on "The Ideal Experience of wearing Clothes made out of Agricultural / Food waste"
This framework model is inspired by Lextant's research method which leads the designer to understand the user's multiple needs. This model is easily read from the center to other directions and each direction has different consequences. And also, it is possible to read from outside to the center.
Client Magazine
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The Framework insights were then visually translated into a Client Magazine. This is our Bible and has all our findings and insights, presented in a digestible format. A common quote from people was that they want Clothes made out of Agricultural/Food waste to be fun, attractive and stylish and we wanted to translate that emotion through the visual language of the magazine.
Outcomes and Impacts
People are willing to accept the new technology and make a difference by contributing to the planet positively.
People want to embrace wearing sustainable clothing and feel motivated and accomplished.
Clothing made out of agricultural and food waste has broken the stereotypical concept of sustainable clothing being dull, neutral, earthy, and etc.
Alternative materials have provided choices to reduce an individual's carbon footprint.
More brands starts to explore more biodegradable materials for their clothing.
A product's story and the messages are kept in front of people to increase awareness and improve the product's equity.
People have become conscious and concerned about the world's depleting natural resources.
Behind Scenes
What I Learned
Listen to people's voices! Our team spent weeks trying to get more people to speak and spending a lot of time organizing this information. Not all processes always go as planned, but you have to believe in the process and have the belief that it will be accomplished in the end. We are very proud of this project and believe that our process will bring small changes to big changes.
Thank you!
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