This term, one of the d.studio sections has been working with social enterprises who are part of the Coast Capital Saving iHUB.
Each team of 5-6 students are working with a different “design/business problem”. They begin by working with their client to co-create a design brief (what problem or opportunity they will work on through the term). This provides an opportunity to practice team work, project and time-management and to test out strategic design techniques such as Assumption Dumption and the Business Canvas. After a review and “sign-off” from the client, the teams move on to a “deep dive” into finding options, testing alternatives and exploring the strategic design process: ASK. TRY. DO.
Here are the companies that the students are working with:
Natural Source Vending designs, builds and manages, free-to-staff nutritious food stations, providing offices with high quality, locally sourced and all-natural snacks to keep employees energized. Natural Source Vending is strongly commitment to the environment. All food service equipment is not only high quality but also Energy Star rated, and all facilities are powered by wind. http://www.naturalsourcesnacks.ca/
Shifting Growth Garden Society has a mission to transform vacant spaces into temporary community gardens and growing spaces. They are becoming part of the solution for the long waitlists for the city’s community gardens. Shifting Growth can fill any vacant commercial and private property with removable garden beds, instantaneously creating a temporary community garden for the neighborhood. http://www.shiftinggrowth.com/
| Skipper Otto’s is a Community Supported Fishery that connects local independent catchers directly to consumers, cutting out middlemen and increasing the income of the fishers. The CSF researches and educates both ends of the supply chain about the conditions for each type of fish to ensure sustainable yield each season without damaging the ecosystem. http://www.skipperotto.ca/ |
CleanStart BC is a hoarding management and junk removal company that seeks to empower people with barriers to employment. We hire people with physical or psychological health challenges from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) to provide quality service. Each of our staff is professionally trained. We are fully licensed, insured, and Worksafe BC covered. We use biodegradable products and are committed to recycling and donating as much as possible. http://cleanstartbc.ca/
zipments.ca is revolutionizing local deliveries and liberating consumers from traditional delivery and time-constrained services. That’s freedom. our mission: Store-to-your-door, on-time, cost competitive, same day, from anywhere, to anywhere, with tracking, and no fuss. our vision: A world where individuals, local communities and cities thrive through the shared economy in a cool, fast, low footprint way. http://zipments.ca/about.html Note Zipments is not part of the current iHUB cohort.
And here are some shots from the studio in action: Grow-Box with their “prototype” presenting at the iHUB
and a shot of the Learning Labs in action (Zipments Team) — low tech whiteboards plus high tech “team screens”.
