Industrial Design, Branding, Service Design, Sustainability.
ENGAGING THE GENERAL POPULATION IN TREE HEALTH THROUGH CITIZEN SCIENCE
Background
British woodland biodiversity is increasingly under threat from a range of pests and diseases, which are resulting in landscape level changes that have huge economic and environmental implications. In response to this, I designed an agar based spore trap that can be used to culture mould spores to identify fungal diseases.
The Problem
Research & Insights
Research was really key to this project, Primary research with a range of stakeholders, from tree surgeons to scientists, generated a number of key insights whilst secondary research was used to identify technology and scientific methods for the early detection of pathogens.
Design Development
Brainstorming ideas as a group with sticker dot evaluation.
Prototyping using card and agar plates.
Sketching early concepts for a spore trap.
Early testing revealed that the form of the initial design was unsuitable and required redesigning.
More sophisticated design exploring the idea of upgrading the traps for more invested citizen scientists.
Exploration of natural forms to celebrate British trees and their biodiversity.
Taking the natural forms and translating them into potential designs for the spore trap.
Refining the form for the spore trap and deciding how the parts would sit together.
Refining the design and identifying suitable colours that wouldn't attract birds or insects.
3D printed prototype to evaluate functionality and use for experience prototyping.
Attempt at moulding paper pulp to demonstrate CMF.
Testing using dyed agar that turned participants fingers blue if they came into contact with it.
The Solution
Social and Environmental Benefits
The spore traps are hung up outdoors to detect fungal diseases.
Users can share the trap with friends after they've taken a sample to gather more data and raise awareness.
The whole spore trap can be industrially composted at end of life.
Data about the fungal diseases can be plotted to monitor their spread.
Management strategies can be implemented to protect woodland habitats.
Community engagement through sharing spore traps and discussing results.
The reward of actively contributing to science and research.
Improved wellbeing through immersion and engagement with nature.
