Interaction Design System Thinking
Food Waste Problem in CCA
Timeline
4 weeks
My Role
UX Research
Diagraming
Skill Practice
System Thinking
Information Diagraming
Identifying Problem in
CCA Food Wasting System
Small change in the small system
to make larger changes in a larger system.
The goal of the project is to identify pain points in the CCA food waste system through systems thinking, using diagrams to conduct research, create problem statements, and propose solutions.
Solution
This is how the economic food cycle should look like in CCA.
Why is it a problem in CCA?
In fact, CCA Makers Cafe does have a solution idea. But it’s not working.
In this case, "Tasting Spoons," "Proper portion size instruction," and "Makers Cafe's awareness" are contributing to the system's inefficiency in reducing food waste.
Current Measure
"Tasting Spoons" is the current measure that Makers Cafe is taking to reduce food waste. In summary, they are attempting to reduce food waste by consumers by ensuring the food tastes good before being served...
Is it really working?
Let’s ask everyone.
I conducted surveys with 20 students at CCA to assess whether Makers Cafe's "Tasting Spoons" strategy is effective in reducing food waste. In the survey, I included additional questions to gather students' opinions on Makers Cafe's food waste policy and strategy, as well as their personal food waste habits.
Insights
20 out of 20 students answered they don’t know about Makers Cafe’s strategy for reducing food waste
More than half of students answered they tend to waste more food in Makers Cafe than at their home
Problem
Lack of awareness regarding the food waste problem.
Mismatched beliefs about the solution to the food waste problem between Makers Cafe and consumers.
Non-customizable portion sizes.
Iceberg Model
I created an iceberg model of the food waste system at Makers Cafe at CCA to comprehend the interrelationship of system components.
Visualizing the problem with a Causal Loop Diagram
Casual Loop Diagram showcases the cause of clogged system flow.
In this case, "Tasting Spoons," "Proper portion size instruction," and "Makers Cafe's awareness" are contributing to the system's inefficiency in reducing food waste.
Balancing Loop 1 (B1) shows the possibility that the current state can be moved to the desired state, "Less food waste," through resource-conscious procurement.
Makers Cafe believes that they are spreading awareness of the food waste problem, but its information touchpoint for people is only on the website.
Measure not working/almost not working
Symbols at the arrowheads to show the direction of influence: Same ( S ) or Opposite ( O )
Solution Idea
4 more additional feedback loops.
Higher potential to make the goal happen.
Balancing Loop 1 (B1) shows the possibility that the current state can be moved to the desired state through resource-conscious procurement.
Balancing Loop 2 (B2) shows the possibility that the current state can be moved to the desired state, "Reduce world's food waste problem," through Makers Cafe spreading awareness.
Balancing Loop 3 (B3) shows the possibility that the current state can be moved to the desired state by improving Makers Cafe's customer/social reputation.
Balancing Loop 4 (B4) shows the potential for Makers Cafe to move from the current state to the desired state through regulatory intervention from nationwide organizations.
Reinforcing Loop 1 (R1) shows that students may prefer to use the customizable portion size option not only to reduce food waste but also to save money.
Makers Cafe's food waste promotion is now prominently displayed throughout the cafeteria, with the anticipation of evoking empathy from customers.
Makers Cafe has incorporated options for customers to choose their preferred portion size, with the expectation of reducing food waste by customers.
Symbols at the arrowheads to show the direction of influence: Same ( S ) or Opposite ( O )
System Thinking Skill
It is very simple, but it's rooted in a thorough system analysis using information diagrams and extensive research.
Navigating the complexities of systems, I've developed the ability to uncover hidden causes and strategically tweak them for a holistic redesign.
It's about turning subtle adjustments into significant impacts. This embodies the essence of system thinking – simplifying complexity into clear, impactful solutions.
3 main takeaways from the system thinking project
System thinking requires a variety of techniques and knowledge to understand and address complex systems effectively.
1. The correct way of making diagrams
From in-class peer reviews and professor feedback, I've refined the causal loop diagram frequently. In systems thinking, a small misunderstanding can lead to major errors.
2. Variety of System Archetypes
Knowing different kinds of system archetypes is essential to identifying solutions after visualizing the system in Causal Loop Diagrams.
3. How to make change in real life
My future challenge is to take this project to the next level by proposing my solution idea to CCA Makers Cafe and Bon Appétit Management Company. The very next step is to design posters to spread awareness about the food waste problem at CCA and create additional informational touchpoints for Makers Cafe customers.
