Little Village is a community based produce and garden sharing platform. It serves as a hub to connect neighbours to local garden space and available produce that would otherwise go unused.
Little Village is a community based produce and garden sharing platform. It serves as a hub to connect neighbours to local garden space and available produce that would otherwise go unused.
Little Village is a community based produce and garden sharing platform. It serves as a hub to connect neighbours to local garden space and available produce that would otherwise go unused.
Little Village is a community based produce and garden sharing platform. It serves as a hub to connect neighbours to local garden space and available produce that would otherwise go unused.
PROBLEM SPACE
PROBLEM SPACE
In Vancouver, Canada, locally grown, good quality produce is not easily accessible to all. It is often expensive and exclusive to specific spaces.
In Vancouver, Canada, locally grown, good quality produce is not easily accessible to all. It is often expensive and exclusive to specific spaces.
DESIGN QUESTION
DESIGN QUESTION
How might I design a service that makes locally grown produce more accessible, while prioritizing self sufficiency?
How might I design a service that makes locally grown produce more accessible, while prioritizing self sufficiency?
SERVICE FEATURES
SERVICE FEATURES
Little Village coordinates safe and easy connection between community members, while providing tips, tools and education for sharing and growing fruits and vegetables. The digital hub connects those looking to garden and grow food with those with excess space. The platform also connects successful garden sharers with to those just starting out.
Little Village coordinates safe and easy connection between community members, while providing tips, tools and education for sharing and growing fruits and vegetables. The digital hub connects those looking to garden and grow food with those with excess space. The platform also connects successful garden sharers with to those just starting out.
Inclusive
Inclusive
Dignified
Dignified
Free
Free
Community Resilience
Community Resilience
Neighbourhood Based
Neighbourhood Based
customer journey
customer journey
customer journey
customer journey
customer journey
Rachel is interested in gardening but doesn’t have any space of her own.
Rachel is interested in gardening but doesn’t have any space of her own.
Rachel is interested in gardening but doesn’t have any space of her own.
Rachel is interested in gardening but doesn’t have any space of her own.
She explores the Little Village website and it’s garden map. She finds available garden spaces in her neighbourhood.
She explores the Little Village website and it’s garden map. She finds available garden spaces in her neighbourhood.
She explores the Little Village website and it’s garden map. She finds available garden spaces in her neighbourhood.
She explores the Little Village website and it’s garden map. She finds available garden spaces in her neighbourhood.
Kathleen and Rachel use the Little Village Get Started Guide and Garden Agreement Template to create their garden share.
Kathleen and Rachel use the Little Village Get Started Guide and to create their garden share.
Kathleen and Rachel use the Little Village Get Started Guide and Garden Agreement Template to create their garden share.
Kathleen and Rachel use the Little Village Get Started Guide and Garden Agreement Template to create their garden share.
Kathleen and Rachel use the Little Village Get Started Guide and Garden Agreement Template to create their garden share.
A neighbour gives Rachel an invitation to a garden and produce sharing initiative. It comes with seeds and a link to growing instructions on the Little Village website.
A neighbour gives Rachel an invitation to a garden and produce sharing initiative. It comes with seeds and a link to growing instructions on the Little Village website.
A neighbour gives Rachel an invitation to a garden and produce sharing initiative. It comes with seeds and a link to growing instructions on the Little Village website.
A neighbour gives Rachel an invitation to a garden and produce sharing initiative. It comes with seeds and a link to growing instructions on the Little Village website.
Rachel find’s a post for some garden space in her neighbourhood. She reaches out to the owner, Kathleen and expresses interest in her garden space.
Rachel find’s a post for some garden space in her neighbourhood. She reaches out to the owner, Kathleen and expresses interest in her garden space.
Rachel find’s a post for some garden space in her neighbourhood. She reaches out to the owner, Kathleen and expresses interest in her garden space.
Rachel find’s a post for some garden space in her neighbourhood. She reaches out to the owner, Kathleen and expresses interest in her garden space.
Rachel grows fruits, flowers and vegetables and shares them with Kathleen and other neighbours.
Rachel grows fruits, flowers and vegetables and shares them with Kathleen and other neighbours.
Rachel grows fruits, flowers and vegetables and shares them with Kathleen and other neighbours.
Rachel grows fruits, flowers and vegetables and shares them with Kathleen and other neighbours.
THIS IS A VIDEO I CREATED OUTLINING THE CONCEPT AND MAIN TOUCHPOINTS OF THE SERVICE.
THIS IS A VIDEO I CREATED OUTLINING THE CONCEPT AND MAIN TOUCHPOINTS OF THE SERVICE.
methods & research
methods & research
methods & research
methods & research
methods & research
Initial Research
Design Research Methods
Iterative Insights
In my initial research I sought to validate and better understand the problem I was hoping to address. I conducted various interviews individuals such as Sarah Kim, the Coordinator for VNFN (Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks) and Elvira Hufschmid, a multimedia artist, cultural educator and community gardener. Through interviews and primary research, the following insights emerged:
Food insecurity is a significant issue in Canada, effecting 1 in 7 Canadians. Many people are not in the position to purchase more expensive produce when facing food insecurity.
There are many systemic and practical barriers hindering involvement in existing food initiatives, such as poverty, lack of transport, lack of childcare, timing and awareness of programs and trust.
Many initiatives that provide low-cost or free produce are band aid solutions to food insecurity. There is a gap in programming that increases food security in a way that is self sufficient and does not require external support.
Visions of a food secure future are directly linked with resilient and self sufficient communities. For this vision to be realized there needs to be an emphasis on relationships, communities and creating food security through a system of mutual support.
Gardening and community gardening is a self-sufficient and cheap method of acquiring food. Potential solutions rely on alternatives to our current economic system.
Initial Research
Design Research Methods
Iterative Insights
In my initial research I sought to validate and better understand the problem I was hoping to address. I conducted various interviews individuals such as Sarah Kim, the Coordinator for VNFN (Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks) and Elvira Hufschmid, a multimedia artist, cultural educator and community gardener. Through interviews and primary research, the following insights emerged:
Food insecurity is a significant issue in Canada, effecting 1 in 7 Canadians. Many people are not in the position to purchase more expensive produce when facing food insecurity.
There are many systemic and practical barriers hindering involvement in existing food initiatives, such as poverty, lack of transport, lack of childcare, timing and awareness of programs and trust.
Many initiatives that provide low-cost or free produce are band aid solutions to food insecurity. There is a gap in programming that increases food security in a way that is self sufficient and does not require external support.
Visions of a food secure future are directly linked with resilient and self sufficient communities. For this vision to be realized there needs to be an emphasis on relationships, communities and creating food security through a system of mutual support.
Gardening and community gardening is a self-sufficient and cheap method of acquiring food. Potential solutions rely on alternatives to our current economic system.
Initial Research
Design Research Methods
Iterative Insights
In my initial research I sought to validate and better understand the problem I was hoping to address. I conducted various interviews individuals such as Sarah Kim, the Coordinator for VNFN (Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks) and Elvira Hufschmid, a multimedia artist, cultural educator and community gardener. Through interviews and primary research, the following insights emerged:
Food insecurity is a significant issue in Canada, effecting 1 in 7 Canadians. Many people are not in the position to purchase more expensive produce when facing food insecurity.
There are many systemic and practical barriers hindering involvement in existing food initiatives, such as poverty, lack of transport, lack of childcare, timing and awareness of programs and trust.
Many initiatives that provide low-cost or free produce are band aid solutions to food insecurity. There is a gap in programming that increases food security in a way that is self sufficient and does not require external support.
Visions of a food secure future are directly linked with resilient and self sufficient communities. For this vision to be realized there needs to be an emphasis on relationships, communities and creating food security through a system of mutual support.
Gardening and community gardening is a self-sufficient and cheap method of acquiring food. Potential solutions rely on alternatives to our current economic system.
Initial Research
Design Research Methods
Iterative Insights
In my initial research I sought to validate and better understand the problem I was hoping to address. I conducted various interviews individuals such as Sarah Kim, the Coordinator for VNFN (Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks) and Elvira Hufschmid, a multimedia artist, cultural educator and community gardener. Through interviews and primary research, the following insights emerged:
Food insecurity is a significant issue in Canada, effecting 1 in 7 Canadians. Many people are not in the position to purchase more expensive produce when facing food insecurity.
There are many systemic and practical barriers hindering involvement in existing food initiatives, such as poverty, lack of transport, lack of childcare, timing and awareness of programs and trust.
Many initiatives that provide low-cost or free produce are band aid solutions to food insecurity. There is a gap in programming that increases food security in a way that is self sufficient and does not require external support.
Visions of a food secure future are directly linked with resilient and self sufficient communities. For this vision to be realized there needs to be an emphasis on relationships, communities and creating food security through a system of mutual support.
Gardening and community gardening is a self-sufficient and cheap method of acquiring food. Potential solutions rely on alternatives to our current economic system.
Initial Research
Design Research Methods
Iterative Insights
In my initial research I sought to validate and better understand the problem I was hoping to address. I conducted various interviews individuals such as Sarah Kim, the Coordinator for VNFN (Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks) and Elvira Hufschmid, a multimedia artist, cultural educator and community gardener. Through interviews and primary research, the following insights emerged:
Food insecurity is a significant issue in Canada, effecting 1 in 7 Canadians. Many people are not in the position to purchase more expensive produce when facing food insecurity.
There are many systemic and practical barriers hindering involvement in existing food initiatives, such as poverty, lack of transport, lack of childcare, timing and awareness of programs and trust.
Many initiatives that provide low-cost or free produce are band aid solutions to food insecurity. There is a gap in programming that increases food security in a way that is self sufficient and does not require external support.
Visions of a food secure future are directly linked with resilient and self sufficient communities. For this vision to be realized there needs to be an emphasis on relationships, communities and creating food security through a system of mutual support.
Gardening and community gardening is a self-sufficient and cheap method of acquiring food. Potential solutions rely on alternatives to our current economic system.
Initial Research
Design Research Methods
Iterative Insights
In my initial research I sought to validate and better understand the problem I was hoping to address. I conducted various interviews individuals such as Sarah Kim, the Coordinator for VNFN (Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks) and Elvira Hufschmid, a multimedia artist, cultural educator and community gardener. Through interviews and primary research, the following insights emerged:
Food insecurity is a significant issue in Canada, effecting 1 in 7 Canadians. Many people are not in the position to purchase more expensive produce when facing food insecurity.
There are many systemic and practical barriers hindering involvement in existing food initiatives, such as poverty, lack of transport, lack of childcare, timing and awareness of programs and trust.
Many initiatives that provide low-cost or free produce are band aid solutions to food insecurity. There is a gap in programming that increases food security in a way that is self sufficient and does not require external support.
Visions of a food secure future are directly linked with resilient and self sufficient communities. For this vision to be realized there needs to be an emphasis on relationships, communities and creating food security through a system of mutual support.
Gardening and community gardening is a self-sufficient and cheap method of acquiring food. Potential solutions rely on alternatives to our current economic system.
Initial Research
Design Research Methods
Iterative Insights
In my initial research I sought to validate and better understand the problem I was hoping to address. I conducted various interviews individuals such as Sarah Kim, the Coordinator for VNFN (Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks) and Elvira Hufschmid, a multimedia artist, cultural educator and community gardener. Through interviews and primary research, the following insights emerged:
Food insecurity is a significant issue in Canada, effecting 1 in 7 Canadians. Many people are not in the position to purchase more expensive produce when facing food insecurity.
There are many systemic and practical barriers hindering involvement in existing food initiatives, such as poverty, lack of transport, lack of childcare, timing and awareness of programs and trust.
Many initiatives that provide low-cost or free produce are band aid solutions to food insecurity. There is a gap in programming that increases food security in a way that is self sufficient and does not require external support.
Visions of a food secure future are directly linked with resilient and self sufficient communities. For this vision to be realized there needs to be an emphasis on relationships, communities and creating food security through a system of mutual support.
Gardening and community gardening is a self-sufficient and cheap method of acquiring food. Potential solutions rely on alternatives to our current economic system.
PROBLEM SPACE
In Vancouver, Canada, locally grown, good quality produce is not easily accessible to all. It is often expensive and exclusive to specific spaces.
DESIGN QUESTION
How might I design a service that makes locally grown produce more accessible, while prioritizing self sufficiency?
SERVICE FEATURES
Little Village coordinates safe and easy connection between community members, while providing tips, tools and education for sharing and growing fruits and vegetables. The digital hub connects those looking to garden and grow food with those with excess space.The platform also connects successful garden sharers with to those just starting out.
Inclusive
Dignified
Free
Community Resilience
Neighbourhood Based