Problem Statement
The Smokers of the Hague University of Applied Sciences need an easy, quick, practical, interesting, and adaptable way to dispose of their cigarette butts and to make it a habit to do so to be more sustainable.
My Approach
I wanted to ensure that I approached this with a heavily research-based design through an extensive interview and observation base. Using these research findings, I was adamant that the design not be something gimmick-y that was just a single-use amusing interaction, but rather a long-standing addition to the smokers’ lives that ultimately helped them improve daily habits.
I also wanted to ensure that it solved the problem of unethical cigarette disposal and not about quitting smoking- preaching was a big no-no. Through ideation, I did want to take more creative liberties for the visual design as my observation did help me conclude that bio-morphism would be a great approach.
...there’s cigarette butts. This focuses on the inevitability of cigarette waste, and the need for the ethical disposal of it.
Make the users feel empowered to throw cigarette butts ethically and have control over their impact, responsible for their actions, connected to their environment, and intrigued enough to explore the design.
Be convenient, easy, and interesting enough to make the users throw their cigarettes away ethically, and make it a habit to do so.
The Bloom Initiative
To Bloom is to flourish, and to encourage a healthy and sustainable cigarette disposal habit on the Hague University of Applied Sciences’ campus.
The Bloom initiative incorporates bio-morphism on the campus by creating a range of nature-inspired designs that blend seamlessly into the natural beauty of the Hague, and encourage and enable smokers to keep their campus clean, working towards a sustainable future.
It emphasises on the existing natural beauty the campus has to offer, and focuses on Mission Zero’s goal of creating a sustainable campus.
Practical
It does not take too much time and energy, and is straightforward, with no gimmicks that need physical effort or brain cycles. One simply uses it like they would any other dustbin.
Adaptable
The designs can be adjusted to fit into any scenario, wherever a student needs or tends to throw their cigarette butts.
Identifiable
The distinct form, colours, and inherent natural beauty will make the designs intriguing to understand, and then easily identifiable, with a quick learning curve and retainability.
Convenient
With an attached lighter, and a designated place to put out a cigarette, the SmokeTrap attracts smokers, and makes the entire process convenient.
Interactive
Technology is more persuasive because it is interactive and engaging.
The Plan
Quantity & Location
Having a large quantity and appropriate placement is important to create habits and have a constant trigger for the desired behaviour. The inherently “beautiful” look and natural feel of the design will not be annoying or ugly for the campus.
Trigger
Posters around campus introducing the idea and encouraging smokers to use the facilities. The trigger is also signage around the designs.
Habit-forming
Smokers want to be ethical. Encouraging them to do so through identifiability, consistency, convenience and constant triggers will slowly create habits. Encouraging forming a habit through this is the key to a sustainable campus, and creating a positive impact on the smokers, even beyond their time on campus.
Convenience
The placement, and easy-to-use design that encourages smoking near it, results in a convenient, quick, and easy user experience.
Ideation
Brainstorming using the Design with intent toolkit
Biomimicry
Chosen route after ideation
Biomimicry would be a great way to integrate the natural beauty of the campus, as well as achieving the goal of having the design stay practical and intriguing.
I further chose to use Bio-morphism specifically- to take direct inspiration from the environment for my designs and implement more visual resemblance to nature.
Moodboard
Sketches
Research
Questions
What are the smoking and cigarette butt disposal habits, and overall behaviours of smokers on and around campus?
What are the reasons for the unethical disposal of cigarettes on campus?
What are the attitudes, mentality, and behaviour of smokers on campus who DO throw cigarette butts ethically?
Methods
Semi-structured interviews
Covert Observation
Data Analysis
Affinity Diagramming
Research Visual Conclusion
Next Steps
With Mission Zero, I will be prototyping the design using Fusion360 and creating a 3D model and print, and taking steps to user test and implement this project on the campus of the Hague University of Applied Sciences.
