Based on your life experience, skills and interests, what would a design process that is both uniquely yours and effective look like?

 

The first step to my unique design process would be to define a general task or issue which I want to solve, and to envision a rough estimate of what I hope to create in resolution. From my own experiences, I know that I work best when I have a clear vision in my mind of what my end goal is, and where I can plan out a path of action to guide my efforts and stay on task. Along these lines, I would then make a step by step checklist to go through all the necessary components and tasks that need to be completed along the way. Now, I will be able to check off tasks as I accomplish them, and clearly see my progress or record challenges that stand in my way. On a day to day basis, I plan out all my activities and meetings on a notepad, and as the day goes along I check off things as they are completed. This not only restores a sense of accomplishment in myself, but also ensures I don’t forget any little details.

Next, I would engage in research, most likely through as much communication as possible. I know that I learn best through listening to others and collaborating with them to come to solutions. Hence, communicating to hear ideas and issues from people involved first-hand in these scenarios ensures validity in my work and helps me to develop a true sense of where I should be heading. Personally, I would create prototypes and models and test them as I go, rather than making then entirely and then test them. I find it’s best to have progress checks along the way, so issues can be addressed and resolved one at a time as opposed to building up on one another. Further, there would need to be multiple final tests of my designs, as I like to be sure that what I’m putting forward can be trusted and will work in the long run. Here, I can also incorporate opinions and insight from others too, to further validate my work.

Implementing my design would be a big deal, since putting hard work into projects means a lot to me, and I make sure that projects I am putting forward I am proud of. Hence, I believe that the implementation phase should be somewhat of a celebration, or exciting time for all those involved.  Once this is complete, I would give it some time to take effect, then resort again to outside sources and other testing forms to receive feedback. Inevitably, very few designs run without any kinks the first time around, so I need to focus on not taking others’ opinions critically and instead use them to look at the design in a new light.

How will you validate your project concept, technology, usability, operational / business model?

As previously mentioned, I greatly value a diverse range of input and insight when constructing project concepts and models, so I will likely seek a great deal of validation through others’ opinions. Of course, these must be taken with a grain of salt, and I should have a method to distinguish those who are credible from those who may just be critical without backing to their points. In regards to the Philippines Plastic Project, we are attempting to reach out to as many cooperatives, non-profit organizations, and community resources as possible, to gather their insight into the specific problems that need to be addressed in Manila, as well as to introduce our concept and hear their feedback. Getting a strong sense of the ecosystem we will be implementing this business model into will create a structural outline for the work that needs to be done, and set us up to face any inevitable challenges in the area. As far as the technology, we are also reaching out to other plastics recycling and waste management groups, to get insight on processes and machinery they currently use to develop similar plastics recycling projects.

Articulate your philosophy of engagement with communities, partners, and markets.

Having a strong engagement with the communities and women’s cooperative once arriving to Manilla is essential to the success of this project in general. Primarily, inclusivity and transparency are two aspects which will ensure the engagement of locals, and help develop a sustainable system that will not fall apart without our help. To do so, we must make sure that we include the local groups and community people as much as possible, so they can become interested and passionate about using the machinery and being able to create their own sources of income through projects. Transparency comes into play so that these people do not feel as though we are coming in and taking over their ecosystems, or looking to completely destroy their communities for our own gains. Instead, it will be essential that we clearly deliver our message that we are proposing and offering a solution to not only the plastic waste issue, but also the gender and socioeconomic gaps in society. Again, it is of the utmost importance that we do not show any arrogance, but demonstrate a genuine interest in helping these people to recognize and unlock their potentials.

 

1. In nature, every organism, creature, habitat, and element has a specific function, but ultimately is part of a greater whole when brought together. This same systems approach to thinking can be applied to my work in the Philippines, since there are many various components that need to come together to create our system. Already, we have identified various technical, social, and environmental sources that can be utilized in our plastics recycling project. By approaching these components from nature’s standpoint, I should view each as a part of one bigger ecosystem we are creating. Second, I can use nature as a model to create a system that is resourceful and efficient with its inputs. This can be done by ensuring we utilize our resources in every way possible, whether that be in our own personal recycling or in the energy sources we pull from. Finally, we can consider the fact that the Earth is a state of dynamic equilibrium, to acknowledge the fact that needs and resources around the world are always changing. With this in mind, we can approach our project with an open mind, never getting stuck on one end goal or one set way of accomplishing tasks. Rather, we should constantly be looking to improve to work we are putting forth, and to find advancements that can create a new “equilibrium.”

2. Life’s Principle which I can apply to my own life is to optimize rather than maximize. Often, with tasks like school work, activities, or projects, one would believe that more work means better results. However, when taking a more optimization mindset, I would be able to prioritize my time better, and recognize what school work or other activities I should allocate my time to efficiently. This way, I am able to multitask or allocate responsibilities to others, rather than taking on too many things myself. Overall, this loops back to the “common goal” mindset, to recognize that my work serves as individual parts towards a larger system.

3. The Cradle to Cradle Design concept relates directly to our work in the Philippines, beginning with the designs being created with intention. The plastics recycling project centers around the same idea of hope that Cradle to Cradle Design supports, since we are looking to bring beneficial solutions to groups of women in need, that can create sustainable and far-reaching outcomes for the long run. I believe that embodying the mindset that competition should be used to strive together would consider with a lot of work we are looking to do. Most recently, we have put together an entire contact list of outside foundations, cooperatives, support groups, and religious and governmental organizations that we are reaching out to for support with our work. Mainly, we are looking to integrate our work into the ecosystem already in place in the Philippines, rather than come in and walk all over the developments and systems already in place in the country. I propose we look to see how we can collaborate with these groups to enhance all of our work, rather than to just have one group donating or doing work for another, or viewing the other as competition. In the long run, this will bring more sustainable, innovative, and impacting results from all those involved in helping women, plastics recycling, and other social issues in the Philippines and beyond.

4. One example of something completely new that I learned from someone else was from my sister, who love animals greatly and wants to study animal therapy. Before talking with her, I had no idea that all sorts of animals are used as therapeutic aids to many people to assist with their symptoms of depression, anxiety or other mood disorders. Through hearing her talk and going to different animal centers with her, I was able to learn all about this world and see the passion she has towards these animals.

Another example of a skill I learned from a friend was python coding and other computer science information. My roommate is currently taking three computer science courses and, being a finance and economics major, I knew very little about anything related to coding. She was able to show me the basics, and even one time help me through coding a simple text line for fun once, although I still would need more practice to gain a stronger understanding of the entire concept. Still, it was impressive that she could help me in learning just the basics.

A third concept that I learned from another individual was all about Chabbad and other Jewish celebrations. At home, the immediate area around me is predominantly Catholic, so I had not been exposed much to traditional Jewish culture. However, freshmen year the two roommates across the hall from me had both attended jewish day school and sleep away camp for their whole lives. They invited me to attend Chabbad with them on Fridays, where I was able to experience the traditions and ceremonies that are celebrated in the Jewish faith, and enjoy the large meal that brings many people from school together.  

In our meeting this week, our group discussed the importance of establishing our connections and resources for the plastics project, since these groups will not only guide the vision and exact goals for the project, but also assist in getting a feel for the scope of the environmental, social, and economic conditions existing in Manilla. As we discussed, there is still some clarification that needs to take place in terms of defining exactly the roles of these stakeholders, or our relations to them, but as we advance in the project we will be working towards answering such questions. The first major stakeholder for our project is the women’s co-op we are partnering with. They will be our main source of information on how the co-op currently operates and what needs they are fulfilling, as well as what they are looking for from us.

The second major stakeholder for our project is the University of the Philippines, located in Manilla. We plan to get in contact with students and faculty there to help learn about the entire ecosystem of Manila, as well as what sorts of research or advancements they are currently working on there. Secondly, we can ask them their thoughts on the direction we should be focusing our efforts, and ensure that our work will align with the needs and goals of socioeconomic climate in Manila.

The third major stakeholder for the plastics project is Lehigh University. Lehigh is sponsoring the research and travels taking place both on our campus and in the Philippines. Lehigh’s staff have established the parameters for these research projects and serve to assist in the technicalities of our everyday work.

The fourth major stakeholder would be the corporations and foundations that sponsor the co-op in Manila. From my original research, I pulled the name Children’s International, which is a foundation sponsoring Paradise Village, where they have already established assistance through a community center and healthcare programs. Another one is called GABRIELLA, who is the National Alliance of Women’s Organizations in the Philippines.

The last group of other stakeholders for the project is local Churches as well as the Bishop’s Council in the Philippines. Specifically, the Bishop’s Council will be our strongest support for social support with our work. Having them assist in any way will add tremendously to the validity and support of the project.

To validate the plastics project, I plan to emphasize the fact that this project is extremely multi-dimensional. The plastics recycling project perfectly aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) currently in place, directly tackling key issues of gender equality, poverty, and innovation and infrastructure. The purpose and goals of this project, once formally laid out, will clearly establish the wide range of “problem” areas being targeted, and the fact that investing energy and money into the plastics recycling group does far more for society than just get rid of bottles lying around. There are exponentially large returns which will come from sponsoring the women’s co-op, giving women direct access to entrepreneurial leverage that provides not only a source of income, but an independence which unfortunately could not have been achieved on their own. Giving our project a socially impacting goal, in addition to the environmental aim, boosts the personal appeal, allowing outsiders to see the lives being touched through our work.

Another way to enhance the credibility of my work is to collect research from direct sources. There is a power that comes from face-to-face or over the phone interactions that simply cannot be met reading an article online. A goal of mine is to reach out to as many direct sources as possible, and hear from their perspective the topics of research we will be looking into. More specifically, this will include reaching out to the Children’s Institute, who sponsor the co-op and run many of the community center events and activities. Further, this will assist me in paying attention to perceptions, which is another powerful tool I plan to utilize that will greatly enhance the credibility of my work. When getting information and ideas directly from individuals involved in various aspects of the project, whether that be a representative from the women’s co-op or a student from the University of Manilla, I will be better fit to see our project from many different perspectives, and understand the true needs that should be met and what role they hope for us to fulfill.

A third way to further validate my project this semester will be to admit when I cannot find something or do not know an answer. As Chris talked about with answering Q&A from presenting, there is no worse mistake than to pretend to know something when you do not. Not only is it morally wrong to lie, but this further takes away from the credibility of the work you have done correctly. There will definitely be roadblocks and dead ends with my project, but it is in my best interests to ask others for assistance when needed or admit that there may be some questions we are simply unable to find answers to. Acknowledging this fact and finding ways to work around mistakes or unanswered questions allows the project to find an alternative path that can lead to further innovation and discovery, rathering than wasting time and energy on an obsolete one.