DUBLIN STREET DRAINS
Project by Qingmiao Zhu
TITLE
Uniform Recycle
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TYPE OF WORK
Service Design
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PROJECT DURATION
2020 Jun - Aug ( 3 Months )
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DESIGN BACKGROUND
The current linear clothing system is extremely wasteful and polluting. Globally, less than 1% of material used to produce clothing is recycled into new clothing, representing a loss of more than USD 100 billion worth of materials each year. Over 90% of uniforms, often high quality goes to landfill or gets incinerated.
These figures inspired me to look into various ways to reduce the waste, and to shift the current linear clothing system into a circular economy.
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DESIGN CHALLENGE
How might we provide a solution to make a range of products from end-of- life uniforms/ PPEs to achieve a pro table service model?
How might we create a social impact on people’s vision and habit towards a circular economy by telling a powerful story with our service solution?
How might we achieve a sustainable and continuous partnership with organisations from a long term perspective?
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About the Project
Key Value
Make their end-of-life PPEs into a range of high-vis cycling kit and give them back
to employees. This project delivers the key values to encourage circular Economy, ‘Bike to Work’ community,
contribute to road safety, care for People and Planet and cost-consciousness.
Key Value
Make their end-of-life PPEs into a range of high-vis cycling kit and give them back
to employees. This project delivers the key values to encourage circular Economy, ‘Bike to Work’ community,
contribute to road safety, care for People and Planet and cost-consciousness.
Key Features
• Project Index and progression check
• Interactive PDF form allows user to edit
• Page tab indicating each stage
• Useful touch points needed at each stage
• Outline content and activities at each stage
• Checklist of required document at each stage
SERVICE OVERVIEW
Uniform Recycle is a step by step operation guideline designed for Recycle Centre to collaborate with corporations/organisations to provide a recycle service for their end-of-life uniforms/PPEs.
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SOLUTIONS IN BREIF
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WEBSITE
The service is supported by a dedicated website as a touchpoint to allow recycle Centre to showcase and demonstrate the value, impact and benefit of uniform recycle service to potential clients. It introduces case studies of projects, these case studies could help future clients to visualise the service possibility and outcomes for themselves.
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It introduces different recycle service models and the collaboration process for clients.
Case studies help future clients to visualise the service possibility and outcomes for themselves, it also demonstrates the value, impact and benefit of the service.
OPERATION GUIDELINE
It introduces different recycle service models and the collaboration process for clients.
REINVENTED PRODUCT
A sample high vis bag cover was reinvented from end-of-life high vis jacket.
DESIGN PROCESS
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RESEARCH & INSIGHTS
I conducted interviews with consumers and industry experts including up-cycling designers, energy and sustainability director and people who are dedicated in circular economy. I visited a recycle/upcycle workshop and a second hand shop. I took apart sample uniforms to study the materials, conducted secondary research and took insights from case studies across the world.
CONCEPT GENERATING & PROTOTYPE
After making sense of the key insights I've gathered, I generated a few early concepts accordingly. Based on one of the ideas 'Cycle for Cycle', I developed it into a more solid concept which involves a few touch points. I created both physical and digital prototypes for the service. I co-create with different stakeholders to help validate my prototypes.
FEEDBACK & ITERATION
Through a few rounds of prototypes, I found that the users need to use the guideline and be more engaged. So I changed the guideline into an interactive PDF format which allows the users to edit. I also made change of the website to make it clearer for the potential clients to scan the pages.
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