DT Individual Project Implementation Stage: Exemplars

Final Ideas:

1. Bins that help or encourage others to recycle

2. Better labels (inclusive of colour and wording consistency as better information design)

With these ideas in mind, I decided to explore current mechanisms that were already in-place within the city's waste management system. I looked to Brisbane City Council's website and found some useful information about waste management practices. Materials like this handbook as well as the smartphone app (which I had already discovered prior this project) empowered citizens with information regarding proper waste management.

I also decided to venture beyond Brisbane and search for other strategies that were employed in other parts of the world. I found this highly informative and amusing article that compiled '10 Creative Ideas To Reduce Littering & Vandalism.' Here are some of my favorites:

The TetraBin

Reminiscent of an ‘80s video game with its sounds and 8-bit images, the aptly-named TetraBIN allows users to collaboratively control Tetris-like blocks on its outer surface. The pattern of these blocks varies based on the size and shape of the litter, as well as the timing of its disposal.

I like how this clever idea engaged users to throw there rubbish in a fun way (though not necessarily hygienic!). It didn't exactly address the segregation issue as well but I guess it's a start to getting users to actually throw their waste into a bin.

Basketball Hoop Trash Cans (from the Philippines!)

These creative basketball hoop trashcans were seen in the Philippines. You have to combine your recycling and throwing skills to score.

Another great interactive idea (and it's lo-fi too!). I like that it has large labels to clearly distinguish what type of rubbish goes into which bin.

Ashtray Trash Can

This creative outdoor advert was created in 2005 by SMÄLL advertising agency for the Barcelona City Council in Spain. It was installed on several area beaches to promote awareness and reduce littering.

I loved the in-your-face approach of this campaign and how it plays on the guilt of litterbugs! I'm not entirely sure if this was effective (it may have worked better if there were bins close to these signs).

Cool right? Doable? Not so much in my case. As with all projects, these all needed TIME and MONEY, two things that my project clearly lacked or hadn't really looked into. These definitely did engage the users in a fun and delightful way. In the event that I chose to take this project further in the future, I could look into how much they could potentially cost to produce and distribute. There's definitely a whole lot to be done should my project take this route but for now, realistically speaking, the better bin labels idea was what I needed to prototype and test out on the users.