Merryn Haines-Gadd

Design Portfolio

The 2010 earthquake in Haiti revealed major weaknesses in sanitation solutions for urban areas; it has been found that four years later access to improved sanitation facilities is still extremely low (31%) in these areas of the country.

Over 200 million people were affected by natural disasters in 2011.

A Low Tech Sanitation Solution For Urban EmergenciesOxfam GBThe Product

Components

Put larger bag

into bucket

Place draw string bag on insert,

leave string outside

Pull draw string & seal bag

Drop draw string bag,

inside larger bag

Sit on toilet and

go!

Remove larger bag,

take to collection

point

How to use the product!

Aim and ObjectivesTo develop and build a prototype of a novel portable sanitation solution that could be deployed in urban emergency situations to provide an immediate sanitation response.

· To explore systems that can be applied for novel low-technology sanitation solutions · To perform the necessary design and build and demonstrate functionality · To consider a strategy of implementation and adoption of the product

Team We were a multidisciplinary team of designers and engineers which included: Material and Chemical Engineers, Marketing Strategist, Industrial Designer, Product Designer and IT engineer.

ApproachAn initial client brief was defined and a literature review conducted of the existing solutions concerning sanitation in emergency situations. In parallel to the review, an ideation process was established which facilitated the classification of the ideas into different categories. A stakeholder workshop with Oxfam was organised and a down-selection process was implemented in order to select the main features of the final product. Once the requirements were defined, the project went on to the prototyping phase and Alpha testing workshops were conducted which helped identify the usability of the concepts. Three models were presented to Oxfam of which one was selected. This final model was then designed using SolidWorks and a manufacturer contracted to create a proof of principle prototype.

OutcomesWorking prototypeRepeatable rapid innovation strategy for future applicationsRecommendations for future development

Future of the Product

Problem DefinitionTRIZ & Kano

IdeationACRREx

Meet OxfamBrief!

A Deep Diveinto Research

Down Selection of Final Solution

Desirability Testing

Detail DesignPrototyping

Product SpecificationsCAD Modelling

Proof of PrincipleWorking

Prototype

Solution ConceptsScamper

Down Selection & Product Definition

Weighted Matrix

Design WorkshopPrototyping

Product DevelopmentSet Based

Conquering Engineering

M e t h o d o l o gy Ti m e l i n e

Batch Production

for Field Testing

Bag Development

Disposal System

A Low Tech Sanitation Solution For Urban EmergenciesOxfam GBThe Process

Consumer Trends For Service InnovationKingfisher plc

Su

stain

ab

ility

Opportunity

By looking at which tools are used at what time of year a trend appears which provides the opportunity for grouping tools by season, that could be exploited to provide multiple purchase or service options.

Potential Solution

Introduce a service where the customer would rent different power tools and hand tools by season. The customer pays a subscription to return and receive different tools for different times of the year. I.e. After the summer period, lawn mower, hand shears, trimmers are returned and swapped for leaf blowers, wood chippers etc. The customer benefits from having access to multiple tools in the time frame when they are needed.

Su

stain

ab

ility

Improve customer experience Reduce Waste

Sustainable behaviour

Observation

There are certain tools that the customers stated they wished to always have to hand in the home . Some are for everyday use

and others only for specific time of the year.

Insight

There are certain types of power tool that the customer has a stronger relationship with than others; primarily down to

frequency of use throughout out the year.

Su

stain

ab

ility

Improve customer experience Reduce Waste

Sustainable behaviour

Observation

People buy full sets of items required to do a specific job. For example: dust-sheets, brushes, paint, masking tape, filler, etc.

Furthermore, people appear to purchase top of the range paint but cheap brushes.

Insight

There is a lack of confidence in the quality of the work ahead. The brushes are perceived as low quality products, probably because of their price, which lends to the

idea that they are throw away single use items so people buy more than just one.

Su

stain

ab

ility

Opportunity

In order to improve the relationship with the customer and encourage loyalty, there is an opportunity to adopt a product duty of the customer.

Potential Solution

Offer customised painting sets to be tailor-made to the customer’s requirements with the correct amount of each material based on the information provided by the customer (i.e. dimensions, type and colour of paint). Painting sets to be returned for cleaning and re-use by either taking them directly to the store or by post in a prepaid plastic envelope. Incentives could be provided to facilitate this process and ensure prompt return. The possibility of dispensing paint in refillable /washable containers should also be considered, this would offer the advantage of reducing waste but also costs for the supply chain.

Su

stain

ab

ility

Observation

Some customers really appreciate information displayed inside the shop, generally the same who declare themselves as amateur in the building and reforming environment. Furthermore, other clients don’t even look

at the information and just check the packages of the power tools in order to compare the technical characteristics.

These people consider themselves experienced buyers.

Insight A pattern among customers was identified:

The inexperience customer who need to understand the very basic specification of the product and

The experienced customer who prefer to compare different brands and models.

Improve customer experience Reduce Waste

Sustainable behaviour

Su

stain

ab

ility

Opportunity

Offering the customer a new service that improves communication which will reduce the time of staff and could reduce cost as well.This lack of information about products can be an opportunity to include sustainable thinking among customers.

Potential Solution

Unify the information delivered and improve it by displaying very basic specification of the product and its meaning for the inexperienced; and comparative tables displaying information the experienced customer need to decide which product is more suitable for them to buy. It is also possible to display which product are more energy efficient and eco-friendly.

MethodologyA variety of methods were used to identify insights, such as passive observations, journey mapping, affinity diagrams and user interviews. The observations were then categorised and idea generation sessions conducted to find potential solutions.

OutputA variety of concepts were proposed to the client in the form of idea cards. These helped communicate the concepts fast and effectively.

Key learningsConsumer led innovation is a fascinating approach; it is vital as designers that we understand the wants and needs of the consumer in order fully propose appropriate solutions. This assignment was fantastic opportunity to research and implement a variety of empathic design tools and I would like to continue to explore this type of methodology further in other projects.

BackgroundKingfisher is Europe’s largest home improvement retailer with over 1,060 stores across nine countries.

“Our purpose is to make it easier for customers to have better and more sustainable homes. This approach will unlock more customer demand and grow our business to the benefit of all our stakeholders”

One way Kingfisher are addressing this purpose is by rethinking the way in which customers purchase, own and use power tools. In particular the exploration of the consumer renting a tool for the time needed as opposed to purchasing a tool and using it once every four or five years.

AimObserve consumer behaviour using a variety of techniques to uncover the insights, needs and aspirations of users to identify opportunities for sustainable innovation for tool hire service.

The Need

Interest in gardening is widespread in the UK across all age groups. People are adopting it not only as a leisure activity, but as a lifestyle. However, rising demand for housing in urban developments means that fewer people have access to land for gardening.

The Mission

∙ Provide access to land for people with a passion for gardening. ∙ Strengthen community ties. ∙ Contribute to human and environmental wellbeing. ∙ Leave a positive impact on the people and land that we serve.

The Vision

∙ Become a household name in garden sharing services. ∙ Be a model of the power of collaborative consumption. ∙ Expand the service across the UK and the globe.

The Product

Cuckoo Land is an online service that connects people looking for land to garden with people who have gardens, but don’t have the time to tend them.

The Team

Cuckoo Land was a project conceived while studying creative entrepreneurship at Cranfield University. The team was made up of two mechanical engineers, a product designer and an agricultural engineer. The team all posses different skills and backgrounds but share the same passion for promoting a more sustainable future through collaboration.

Interest in gardening

LandPeople

Collaboration

Community

Social enterprise

Why are there so many people on allotment waiting lists?

www.Cuckoo-land.com

Cuckoo LandLet’s Grow Together

Pro

posal /

Insig

hts

79,000 people in 2013!

Consumer Interviews

What is your

gardening experience?

Do you have access to an allotment?

Do you have any

under-utilised land?

Novice, but really like the idea of growing our own food

to reduce costs.

Been growing flowers and crops for

over 40 years. Regional prize winner and active

member of RHS.

We don’t grow food but have a few of our favourite perennial

flowers and shrubs.

We put our name on a waiting list 3 years ago.

Yes, I’ve been a member of the organising

committee for the last 15 years and held an

allotment for 20 years.

Not sure. We’ve never looked for a local allotment.

We have no land! We live in a

new build home with a tiny garden. We had to choose between a garden or parking

space...

No my garden and

allotment crops are rotated every year and I have greenhouses and a compost heap. As well as

a pond and a chicken coop.

Yes the overgrown bit at the

end where the kids used to play when they were young, it’s too much for

us to manage now.

Family Retired Couple

What information did we find?

Mark

et

/ Consum

er

Researc

h

Market Potential = 79,988

Competition

Research and Analysis

Lifestyle Social Participation SurveysSocial Trends

Demographic StatisticsPopulation Census

Market Analysis ReportsMarketing & Communication Strategy - Technology in Gardening

Allotment waiting listsSurvey of 2013 waiting list in England

Customer Journey

Pilot Scheme- Spring ‘14

Oxford

Location Chosen:

∙ Existing Allotment Waiting List

∙ Number of Allotment Spaces

∙ Presence of Strategic Partners

© Glen Pascoe 2014

© Glen Pascoe 2014

Scaling

The UK is a Nation of gardeners! Could be scaled across whole country!

Data gathered on allotment waiting lists provides a good framework for development, as it shows where the highest demand is.

How are we going to do this?

Strategic Partnerships

A common failing of collaborative consumption ventures is a lack of volume on the supply.

By forming strategic partnerships with large land owners across the UK this will help ensure a sufficient stock of land on the site for Land Growers.

Imple

menta

tion

Magazine StoolThis is an extension of the magazine

chair, while the other uses friction as its main source of stability,

this uses the longitudinal strength of the magazine as well as the friction to create a seat that is

made entirely out of magazines.

Made from 12 Magazines, 6 Elastic Loops and 4 Cable Ties

Magazine ChairThis chair uses no glue to keep the pages in place, just friction; interlace the pages of a magazine (like you would when shuffling cards) and static friction makes it almost impossible to pull the pages apart.

This product is easy to make and surprisingly durable, be tailored to any magazine and a chance to give new life to redundant objects.

Made from 4 Magazines, 16 Cable Ties, 2 Elastic Loops and 1 Directors Chair.

Chair Featured in Issue no. 265 of Empire Magazine in 2011

Tweeted Empire Magazine the Article on Treehugger.com

Article written about Magazine chair on Treehugger.com

o u t e r c a s i n g 1 m m a l u m i n i u m .

m a i n b o d ym a h o g a n y.

c o n n e c t o r ss p h e r i c a l / r o d m a g n e t s .

A piece of storage for your most

treasured possessions; l ike a charm bracelet

you add more sections so it grows as you do.

The aluminium casing and wooden faces can

be marked or engraved to add an extra level of

occasion or sentiment and encourages

personal interaction with the product.

u s e .m a r k .

c o l l e c t .r e m e m b e r.

With the social concerns surrounding healthy eating, foods like dairy and sugar are at risk of becoming taxed, and therefore more expensive, making some of the most widely available foods at present more rare and luxurious.

This product explores the idea and ritual of cheese courses and high teas resulting in a set designed to be used at social gatherings to make eating while stood easier, the plate fits in the hand, and implement is multi-functional to perform all desired eating actions.

Research into how the hand holds and uses objects inspired the shape of the implement and plate, so they are comfortable to use.

The concept of oyster shells as packaging and a surface with which to eat from inspired the form.

The material used is porcelain, it’s cheap and easy to manufacture. The handle is leather to give a rustic feel while being flexible to accommodate different hand sizes.

indulgenceTreat yourself to a little bit of something good

m.hainesgadd@gmail .com - 07866 370 901

www.mezhg.com