Masters Capstone Project: Worm-E "The Food Waste Science Education Cart"
Description: Worm-E is a service model that is based around a compact cart that easily travels between classrooms and schools. The Worm-E cart uses composting as a tool to foster environmental awareness and facilitate learning through actionable steps to make an impact and develop critical thinking skills.
Design Category: Industrial Design, Service Design, Graphic Design
Time Span: 1 year
Time Span: 1 year
This project is still a work in progress.
Two Big Problems
Problem #1: Every year, wasted food produces more greenhouse gas emissions than 37 million cars. Food waste reduction is declared the third most impactful solution to climate change.
Problem #2: Students struggle with critical thinking, the scientific process, understanding how to collect data, and how to use and interpret that data.
The Solution
Worm-E: The Food Waste Science Education Cart
Worm-E: The Food Waste Science Education Cart
Worm-E is a subscription-based service model centered around a composting cart that easily travels between classrooms and schools. The Worm-E cart uses composting as a tool to foster environmental awareness and facilitate learning through actionable steps to make an impact.
The service reduces the time commitment and pressure on teachers while encouraging critical thinking through development of scientific methodology. A subscription to Worm-E provides curriculum development, supporting scientific equipment, teacher consultation, and the maintenance, set up and storage of each cart. Use of each Worm-E cart will follow a monthly subscription service.
How the Service Works
Using the Cart in the Classroom
Encouraging the Development of Critical Thought
Below are just a few examples of the applications the Worm-E cart provides.
Using the Interactive Whiteboard
Students have the opportunity to collect and extrapolate on data and to come up with models of their own. The interactive whiteboard attached to the unit will employ GIS data showing neighborhood waste rates, emissions readings, and recordings of the worms breaking down the food items. All of this information is readily accessible for phones, computers and tablets.
Teacher Feedback
The Design Process
Shown below is a glimpse of the process I took to develop this product. For the sake of brevity, I have left out information on qualitative and quantitative research gathered, market analysis, product manufacturing details among other information. I have created a book on the entirety of this project. Please ask contact me for more information!
Prototype Timeline
The storyboard above is a condensed version of the original.
For the full version, click here.
For the full version, click here.
