WEEK FOUR

GDE740 Outcome and Ambition.

UCAN. Draft Proposal Script.

UCAN. proposal script.docx

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Intro 1 – me

Intro 2 – project idea

I want to start with some big numbers.

In 2021/22 approximately 2.17 million people used a foodbank in the United Kingdom.

Two point seventeen million.

In the top 25 economies list the UK is currently no.5.

Number five.

It’s 2023 and a rich country still hasn’t learned how to feed their own.

The numbers attached to food packaging waste are equally staggering.

As are mental health statistics.

As are suicide statistics.

As are child poverty statistics.

As are food waste statistics.

As are …

As are …

The Uk carries a burden of depressingly massive numbers attached to all the wrong things.

Immediately I have raised huge, global issues. Dwelling on these colossal problems can be totally debilitating as we drown in the huge numbers and the tragic stories.

Therein lies the choice.

We drown or we make better stories.

So – I had an idea.

UCAN. came as a result of researching food packaging waste and the consequences to the environment. An issue caused by extreme capitalism, western society and the middle classes. Therefore, a problem to be solved by the same.

For me, the privilege of being white, western and middle class comes with a responsibility to do something about the problems that I contribute to.

2.17million people in my country do not have the privilege of choosing sustainable food packaging. They just need to feed their children and themselves. Intelligent, caring people are unable to engage on so many levels with the environmental crisis.

We have disempowered them.

Even more reason to do something. To make better choices on behalf of those who cannot.

Here is an outline of my idea;

UCAN. is an initiative that hopes to make a very small response to our colossal problems of food and social poverty and mental health issues by empowering all to contribute to a wider cause.

Using a play on words the name UCAN. invokes encouragement and a positive attitude from the start. The phrase seeks to empower all regardless of situation.

UCAN. is a very simple concept.

Using seeded cardboard in the form of free coasters, all are then able to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Each coaster contains pop-out ‘leaves’. The cardboard ‘leaf’ is filled with seeds so can be planted. Any spare leaves can be used as gift tags when you have plants to give away or swap. This not only promotes the initiative but gives all a reason to engage with others. Share the joy!

UCAN. growers can simply use the seeded coasters to engage with others in their community or use the engine room of the initiative the UCAN., free to download growers community app.

With your own ‘allotment’ or account on the app you can find other UCAN. growers in your community to swap and share your plants with. The app will also provide plant care guidance and a recipe book. This enables UCAN. growers to swap and share recipes as well as plants.

UCAN. seeded coasters are provided free of charge to all by the food manufacturing and supply sector. There will be a variety of seeded coasters - courgettes, tumbling tomatoes, mixed lettuce, hops, herbs such as parsley, oregano, basil. The coasters will be distributed to and given away at supermarkets, food banks, community centres, doctors surgery’s, and schools.

UCAN. provides all with a ground level plant exchange and community initiative. The main aim is to address the tragedies of, relational and food poverty, poor mental health issues by empowering all to make a contribution to the environmental damage by enabling one person to enable another. With an inclusive message and a simple design solution the goal of UCAN. is to empower all to engage on a practical, constructive level with environmental, societal and mental

health issues.

UCAN. products are free and accessible to all, made of sustainable material, using widely available technology enabling all to participate in building a positive community initiative.

This in turn demonstrates that all are valued, builds community and therefore raises hope by combating loneliness and promoting well-being.

During this process I looked in to the importance of ‘name’ when developing a brand. Also the ability to succinctly describe what the idea is in as little as ten words.

Here goes –

UCAN. Your on-line allotment

pop-a-plant swap it up pass it on

You can get involved.

Grow your own food with UCAN. seeded coasters.

A window sill, back garden, balcony or a real allotment means all can join the UCAN. plant exchange community. Get to know UCAN. growers in your area. Swap your plants with, or just give them as a gift and invite others to join UCAN.

UCAN. make a difference.

With the rational behind UCAN. I then wrote this outline for a brief as shown in a previous blog;

Design a ground level, inclusive initiative which will address the universal

tragedies of environmental damage, relational poverty and food poverty.

Develop an inclusive message and design solution that empowers all to

engage on a practical, constructive level with environmental, societal and

mental health issues.

This product will use sustainable material, widely available technology,

be accessible to all and encourage ownership of a positive community

initiative that values all, builds community and therefore restores hope

Having brought this self directed project so far I will now outline the direction I will take it in. Still using the brief to ground any further development I will continue to push it further for the purpose of this module.

PROGRESSION

Research in to any similar project or community initiative backed by the food retail and distribution companies.

Focus on Trussell Trust

After completing further research in to seeded card and the seed options available I will look at alternative options for the UCAN. free seed product - if necessary.

This may involve blister packs for the seed contained within a coaster size card.

Sketches taken to digital to demonstrate further options.

A re-design of the brand image to include;

Logo.

Visuals for additional products -

Free Starter Packs to contain compostable seedling trays and pots plus small bag of peat free compost.

Visuals and navigation for UCAN. app.

Updated proposal.

I am also inspired by the design agency in Barcelona - La Casa De Carlota . where creatives work with a range of other creatives such as fine art students or those with Downs Syndrome or other learning differences.

I am intrigued how I could bring this in to the development of UCAN. Their ethos of diversity and inclusion fits well.

The result of a tutorial on the progression of UCAN. has cemented a lot of ideas and placed this as a concept which has the ability to evolve as it is used.

Further ideas for development;

Inviting foodbank users to contribute artwork for use with the brand image. This could run as a competition.

Off shoot ideas to print and for the app;

Recipe ideas.

Plant care and gardening tips. This could include input from local allotment owners.

Lend a patch of your allotment for a season.

Plant growing Starter Pack.

UCAN. artwork starter pack for children.

UCAN. Gardening Tools Library Shed placed in local allotments.