loop system - design process

8/20/2019 LOOP System - Design Process

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Savannah College of Art and Design | SCAD Lacoste, France | Spring 2015 | School of Design, Biomimicry Class

Project Title: LOOP

Project Team: Lacoste Design

Project Members: Daniel Cheon, Keith Costa, Paul Hawkins, Andrew Moore, Bailey Preib, Meghan Preiss, Taylor Ross, Jingya Zhang


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Scoping Phase Process

During the scoping phase, the design team dened the design challenge, researchedand clearly dened the context in which the design was to succeed, identied thefunction the design needed to fulll, integrated life’s principles and a systemicapproach to sustainability into the vision for the desired outcomes. During thisphase, it was important not to jump to solutions, but to keep an open mind towardlearning about the existing problem and its dynamic in the social fabric, and then

set the bar for the design challenge — by outlining the background, the context, thegoals, and constraints.

The design team conducted contextual eld research in local open-air markets inthe Provence, France (our location at the time during our study-abroad semester),to research the problem of food waste and dene opportunities for food wastereduction. The design team visited multiple markets and farmers, observed marketoperations and sales processes, and interviewed vendors and stakeholders.

• Video describing the scoping phase can be accessed here:

https://vimeo.com/130186063

Scoping Phase Outcomes

• Scoping Phase Design Criteria:

Design Challenge (function to be emulated): Our design must upcycle food wastefrom local open-air markets in order to create value for stakeholders so that it isenthusiastically adopted.

Vision Statement: Our design enables people in open-air markets to upcycle their

food waste, it enhances the experience of children visiting the markets, is alsoaccessible to adults, repurposes the waste into useful products, and leads to theexperience of fun and to creative expression.

Nature’s Unifying Patterns: Please note that the design team used the traditional 26Biomimicry Life Principles as a guide for addressing nature’s patterns (as this wasa mandate for succeeding with the class work). These life principles are a morerened version of the ten unifying patterns of nature used in the BiomimicryChallenge process. The team chose four of the principles in particular that they felthad specic relevance to the challenge at hand.

• Incorporate Diversity Include multiple forms, processes, or systems to meet a functional need so

that the nal concept can take full advantage of the diversity of the region.

• Recycle all Materials

Keep all materials in a closed loop so that the resources of Provence canbe used in a responsible and efcient manner.

• Cultivate cooperative relationships

Find value through win-win situations so that stakeholders in the marketsystem will enthusiastically adopt the nal concept.

• Leverage cyclical processes

Take advantage of phenomena that repeat themselves so that the conceptcan make use of the existing social and biological structures alreadypresent in the region.

Constraints : The team chose to focus specically on addressing the issue of food waste within the open air markets that travel weekly from town to town in the areaaround Lacoste, France.

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In an effort to reduce food waste and economic inequality in France, the Frenchgovernment passed an amendment to a law in 2015 that banned supermarkets fromdisposing of unwanted food and halt the practice of deliberately poisoning wastefood as a measure to prevent foraging. Supermarkets will instead be required todonate the food.

Willsher, K. (2015, May 25). Man who forced French supermarkets to donate food wants to take law global . The Guardian . Retrieved from

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/25/french-supermarkets-donate-food-waste-global-law-campaign?CMP=share_btn_fb

Figure 1: Design team researching open-air market in Apt, Provence, France. Authors’

image.

https://vimeo.com/130186063https://vimeo.com/130186063https://vimeo.com/130186063


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FUNCTION BRIDGE

Biologized QuestionHuman Design

Project Vision:

Our design enables peoplein open air markets to upcycle

their food waste.

Abstract Design Principles

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Design Statement:

Our design must upcycle food waste

from local open air markets in order

to create value for stakeholders so that

it is enthusiastically adopted. Biologized Research Question:

How does nature upcycle in order

to benefit the entire ecosystem?

The

mackerel sharkdigests food throughthe cooperation of

churning muscles andchemicals.

Thespotted hyena uses its uniquely

shaped molars to breakdown bone and other

hard tissue to digest themarrow and other

nutrients.

Biologized Design

Strategies

U p c y

c l i n

g F o o

d W a s t

e

U p

c y c

l i n g

3 D

e s i g n P r i n c i p l e s

C r e a

t i n g

HYENA: Our design must be

able to crush hard natural

substances by using concave

and convex angles more easily ,

processes them so that it can

easily break down hard material.

WASP: Our design should use

a protein to mix with a fibrous

material to create a lightweight

waterproof building material,

so that one can upcycle biotic

materials to create eco-friendly building materials.

SHARK : Our design must

incorporate both physical and

chemical processes to break

down waste and have the

potential to store or expel it, so

that the resources are either

processed, maintained, or

expunged.

The paper wasp

upcycles by using

decaying wood plantfibers and its own

saliva to build itshives

Discovering Phase Process

As a result of the scoping phase, the function that the design needed to fulll, andthe vision for the desired outcome had been dened. The design statement and visionstatement represented the foundation for the scientic research and were transformedinto this biologized research question: “How does nature upcycle in order tobenet the entire ecosystem?”

Gaining inspiration from nature the design team learned about emulating nature’sstrategies for upcycling waste. In order to grasp various functional perspectives,different techniques were used to learn from nature, such as the biological, the locallens as well as the function lens. The design team organized these observations into“function cards” — describing functions, strategies, and mechanisms of differentorganisms from which design principles were abstracted in order to emulate nature’sgenius during the creating phase and to guide the design process.

Discovering Phase Outcomes

• Researched 100+ organisms for potential emulation.

• Created 60 function cards in preparation for creating phase.

• Categorized these function cards into specic sub-sections of the

function sought to emulate (nding patterns among the identied

strategies).

• Narrowed function cards down to 15 for the design charette in order

to manage the design process by limiting the number of strategies to

emulate.

• Further narrowed options to dene 3 “champion” organisms (see next

three slides):

Mackerel Sharks (Lamniformes)Spotted Hyena ( Crocuta crocuta)Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus)

Lastly, the team mapped a “function bridge” to assure that the discovering phaseoffered emulation opportunities from nature that would address the functionquestion dened during the scoping phase:

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Video describing the discovering phase can be accessed here:


Figure 2: Students exploring the local environment learning about Nature’s genius. Authors’ image.

Figure 3: to the right Function bridge graphic depicting the journey from dening thedesired function in the human system to discovering specic strategies in nature to beused for address the original function question during the upcoming creating phase.

Authors’ illustration

http://%20https//vimeo.com/128544747http://%20https//vimeo.com/128544747http://%20https//vimeo.com/128544747https://vimeo.com/128544747


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Champion Organism 1

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Function: To break down organic matter (food)

Strategy: Mackerel sharks digest food through the cooperation of churning muscles andchemicals.

Mechanism: The stomach of a mackerel shark is expandable and includes rugae (muscleridges along the stomach wall) that churn and mix the food materials with hydrochloric acid.

The pancreas contributes to this process by secreting protein-breaking enzymes into thestomach. The rhythmic contractions of the stomach are referred to as peristalsis. Thefood is converted into a paste that is passed onto the intestines. The liver is responsiblefor processing digested fats and building enzymes. Whatever the shark cannot digest, iteverts its stomach and regurgitates the other materials. Finally, the stomach is alsocapable of storing food for months.

Design Principle: Our design must incorporate both physical and chemical processes to

break down waste and have the potential to store or expel it, so that the resources areeither processed, maintained, or expunged.

Mackerel Sharks

Lamnifvormes

Figure 5: Food is churned in stomach byacids and contraction. Authors’ illustration.

Citation:

Martin, R. (n.d.). No guts, no glory. Biology of Sharks and Rays.

Retrieved May. 6, 2015, from http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/white_shark/di-gestion.htm

Figure 4: Shark [photograph]. Retrieved April 18, 2015, from http://anima-lia-life.com/data_images/shark/shark2.jpg


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Champion Organism 2

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Function: To break down organic materials

Strategy: The spotted hyena uses its uniquely shaped molars to break down bone andother hard tissue in order to digest the marrow and other nutrients more easily.

Mechanism: The Spotted Hyena exists in a category of mammal colloquially labeled“bone-crushers” in that their teeth have evolved to crush bone. Hyenas are part of theCarnivora Order and the Hyaenidae Family, both of which have teeth specically to tear,crush, and easily digest esh. The teeth have evolved with a wedge shape in themiddle, which focuses the force of the jaw in such a way as to prop, the bone on thetwo edges of the tooth and put crushing pressure on the center, therefore cracking thebone. While chewing, the spotted hyena’s unique molars break down the bone with suchefciency as to be digested more quickly. The digestive system of the spotted hyena isunique in that it can easily digest every part of the animal it has fed upon, except for thehair, hoofs and horns.

Design Principle: Our design must be able to crush hard natural substances by usingconcave and convex angles more easily processes them so that it can easily break downhard material.

Spotted HyenaCrocuta crocuta

Figure 7: Wedge-shaped teeth designed to effectively crushbones to make it easier to digest. Authors’ illustration.

Citation:

John, l. G. (1989) Carnivore dental adaptations and diet: a study of trophic diversity withinguilds. Carnivore Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution. (Part III). Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4757-4716-4_16

Figure 6: Hyena [photograph]. Retrieved April 12, 2015, fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_hyena#/media/File:Crocuta_crocu-ta_Mara_Triangle.jpg


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Champion Organism 3

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Function: To upcycle biotic materials

Strategy: The paper wasp upcycles by using decaying wood plant fibers and own salivato build its hives.

Mechanism: The paper wasp uses its saliva protein to mix with dead wood and plantsto create a paper like material, which is used in creating the nest. This mixture creates a

waterproof brown material. The source of protein in the saliva comes from the insects itconsumes.

Design Principle: Our design must use a protein to mix with a brous material to createa lightweight waterproof building material, so that one can upcycle biotic materials tocreate ecofriendly-building materials.

Paper Wasp

Polistes fuscatus

Figure 9: Saliva is mixed with dead wood and plants tomake materials for building hives. Authors’ illustration.

Citation:

Bees, hornets and wasps. (n.d.). Got Pests? Retrieved May. 6, 2015, fromhttp://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/gotpests/bugs/bees-wasps.htm

Figure 8: Paper Wasp [photograph]. Retrieved April 12, 2015, fromhttp://www.everythingabout.net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/in-sects/wasps/paper_wasp/


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Creating Phase Process LOOP System

Figure 12: Participants further rene their concepts on working walls to zoom in and then vote for particularconcepts, so that they could mix and match, narrow, and

consequently move forward with ONE solid idea. Author’sImage.

Figure 10: Participants creating initial 3D concepts foraddressing the given design challenge during a 15-hourdesign charette marathon. Authors’ image.

Figure 11: Participants creating storyboards of their 3Dconcepts to demonstrate how their innovations wouldoperate in context. Authors’ image.

Figure 13: LOOP System Diagram. Authors’ illustration. 7

Dr. Neil Canter. (2009). Humpback whales inspire new wind turbine technology. Tech Beat , Retrieved fromhttp://www.stle.org/assets/news/document/techbeat_tlt_12-08.pdf

Step 2: The separated meat is turned intofertilizer bricks that can also be burnt forenergy. The separated bone is turn intobone dust, on location, by “popcycles”

— devices operated by people/children(emulating the hyena jaw action).

Step 1: Meat and fish waste is collected

from vendors. The waste is then processed

with enzymes to separate meat from bone

(emulating the food processing mechanism

in a shark's stomach). The device is

operated by wind or mechanically

powered by people.

Step 3: The generated bone dust is mixed with proteins/bio-plastics (emulating thepaper wasp’s process of mixing saliva withfibers) with the outcome of generating bio-degradable 3D printing filaments forprinting a variety of objects.

Step 4: A special 3D printer is used to create customproducts, on location, specifically attuned to the needs and

wants of the local population, printed with the bio-degradable 3D printing filaments generated from the

organic waste collected at the market.


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Evaluating Phase Process

The design team evaluated the design against the traditional 26 Biomimicry LifePrinciples throughout the design process multiple times. The nal design concept was,again, tested against these unifying patterns of nature.

Evaluating Phase Outcomes

Below listed are the four life principles (nature’s unifying patterns) that the teamdetermined highly relevant to the design challenge during the scoping phase. Whilenot shown here, the design team evaluated all 26 life principles.

Incorporate Diversity: Include multiple forms, processes or systems to meet afunctional need.

The design includes multiple forms and processes to meet the necessary function. The multiple forms in this process include unique interactive designs that engagethe consumers at the market, as well as manage food waste. Furthermore, thedesign incorporates many different demographics, from children to the elderly, in

ways that are both fun and interactive and educational. The different methods ofcreating the bone dust are geared towards children, while the end-products can begeared towards both, children and/or adults.

Recycle all Materials: Keep all materials in a closed loop. The project vision for this prototype includes the importance of upcycling food waste to create a full cycle within the market. The only materials being used for

the product are meat and sh waste and bones that otherwise would have beendiscarded in an unsustainable way. The product will also be biodegradable so thatit can be returned to nature as nutrients. However, the Pupcycles, 3D printer, windturbine, and any packaging material will not be biodegradable and more than likelythese things will also not be made of recyclable material.

Cultivate Cooperative Relationships: Find value through win-win situations. The prototype was designed as a system to benet multiple parties in the market,cultivating cooperative relationships. Such relationships emerge from vendorscontributing their food waste and the customers beneting from the productsand amenities that go along with the installation of the prototype. Vendors andconsumers can eliminate their meat trash in a community-friendly way. LOOP isfamily-friendly and helps foster a positive environment.

Leverage Cyclical Processes: Take advantage of phenomena that repeatthemselves.LOOP leverages cyclical processes by using the energy produced by wind turbines,as well as manual power. The wind turbine takes advantage of the frequent strong

wind in the Provence, and uses it to power the devices. Also, pedestrian trafcat the market is utilized as a failsafe for the wind turbine. On days when thereis limited wind, children can mechanically power the meat waste drum (which is

always available). 8

Video describing the creating phase and the evaluating phase can be accessed here:


Member Check: A “Member Check” is a form of getting feedback directly fromthe stakeholders about whom data was collected. The ndings are presented to these

members in order to support the insights gained from the data or to re-evaluatethe completed data interpretation. In this case, the design team not only presentedthe data maps, but a lso the emerging prototype to gain insights from stakeholderresponses. These stakeholders provided the team with new perspectives. Themembers shared excitement about the learning aspects of the design, from teachingchildren and locals about animals to teaching them about new technology.

Figure 14: Design team evaluating their nal concept. Authors’ image.

Figures 15-17: Participants of our Member Check. Author’s Images.

https://vimeo.com/129718413https://vimeo.com/129718413http://%20https//vimeo.com/128544747https://vimeo.com/129718413


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Partners

• Local market sellers andbuyers.• Distributors and manu-facturers for 3D printers.• French governmentalbodies.

Cost Structure

Variable costs:-HR -Energy and fuel-Purchased materials

Revenue Stream

Sale of goods.If the business grows, it is possible to consolidate manufacturing intofactories and expand by partnering with distributors and establishingboutiques around France and even around Europe. Mass quantities maybe exported through DHL or other services. Once we secure consumersegment and proftability, we can proceed to opening up sales on-line.

On-line distribution to unknown customers without established cus-tomer base can be risky and costly.

Fixed costs:-Maintanence-Marketing -Branding/IP

Sunk cost:-Transportation and distribution-Manufacturing line- Other capital and equipment

Activities

• Exchange of waste.• Designing and purchasing of goods.• Use and disposal.

Resources

• Meat and bones waste.

• Other necessary materialsto make printable plastics.• HR for promotion, salesand design.• Market stall and printer.• Energy generation.

Value Propositions

• Environment• Education• Local quality assurance• Standardized quality of manufactured goods.• Customer co-creation.• Support of local artisans.• Potential for localeconomic stimulation.• Biodegradability anddisposability.

Stakeholder Segments

We target consumers andfamilies of middle incomeand higher. Our productscan serve as both utilityand novelty products andcan target both local andtourists. Word of mouthand internet based viralmarketing could attractmore customers. Utilityis offered through theproduct itself. Singlemanufacturing line (design

to 3d printing) can satisfyall demands making the

process viable in the fxed

cost department.

Stakeholder Relations

• One-on-one customerinteraction ensures hightouch customer relations,increasing value.• It is a design frm as

much as a product salesfrm, as we will be selling

designed, personalized

plastic based products.Distribution Channels

• The business works in aspecifc situation. It must

be compartmentalized byhandling manufacturing,distribution and sales.

Business Opportunity

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Energy supply:

• What would power the 3D printer at the stand (usually, the stands are not hooked upto electricity or other forms of energy)?

Feasibility of business model:

• In addition to the stakeholder check — which yielded positive feedback for thedesigned concept — the team interviewed expert Jung-Kap “Paul” Cheon, Director,Overseas Operation Unit Shin Poong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd Seoul, Korea — whobrought up some concerns about scale of the operation and the business model — the team will need to re-investigate feasibility:

Due to the issue of acidity in the waste processing step, the material cost for thedevices (industrial glass coated mechanics) would be astronomical, leading to theplastic produced not being competitive compared to oil-based price-competitive plasticsolutions. Conning the manufacturing within France will also mean staggering labor

cost compared to the foreign competition (imported plastics from Asia, for instance).However, growing attention towards environmentally-friendly goods may allow for theproposed innovation to penetrate the existing market in the future. Furthermore, thefact that the design utilizes raw materials that can be acquired with bare minimal costs(compared to the petroleum of conventional plastics) can signicantly alleviate the costefciency eventually.

Thinking beyond the community-based concept at the local market, the concept couldbe expanded to manufacture packaging goods, plastic containers, and the sorts, onan industrial scale, which would elevate this innovation and its business model intoa completely different dimension. Keeping the local solution gains CSR recognition

while additionally working on the industrial scale would bring a solid revenue stream.

Next steps:

• The design team needs to engage a number of experts to address the above listedopen questions and concerns in order bring their innovation to market: In addition tospecialists in logistics, lobbyists for the cause, business developers, material scientists,chemical engineers, the team would also need to engage mechanical engineers fordesigning the wind-powered mechanisms in the markets.

Current Limitations and Next Steps

To move this concept into further development the design team would still have toaddress a number of serious issues:

Manpower:

• How many people would be needed to run the whole system?

• Would there be employees collecting and transporting the waste and working thestand?

• How exactly can the community be more involved (other than operating theLOOP devices)?

Materials, process, and cost:

• Since the waste processing leads to highly acidic content, what materials can beused in the building of the devices that would withstand the amount of acidity

hitting the surface? What would it cost?

• What about the supply of the specic enzymes needed for the process? Where would it come from?

• How much waste would we need specically to create a kilo of 3D bio-printing mass? What is the ratio (one expert said 1:3)?

• How much waste do we need to collect to break even and make a prot?

• How does the biodegradable bone plastic, once printed, react to other substances,such as wine if we were to print wine bottle stoppers?

• What is the exact chemistry behind the biodegradable bone plastic, the speciccombination of ingredients, as well as the time-line for it to biodegrade?

• What is the lobbying that needs to happen on the policy level when weconsider the handling of waste in the public sphere? Thinking about high acidity manufacturing and treatment of sludge, gas pollution, etc…

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Figure 18: The Design t eam learning together about nature. Authors’ image.

Team Success

Our transdisciplinary team thoroughly enjoyed learning the Biomimicry Thinking Design Processtogether. We worked in a unique situation during our semester-abroad adventure in France. Due tothe fact that we literally lived and learned together 24 hours/day, our group became very close and

would be in good shape to continue collaborating were this project to move forward. At our school we enjoy many fruitful relationships across disciplines and also with other schools and industryexperts. It would be possible to receive the resources necessary to solve the issues outlined under

next steps on the previous page.

Furniture Designers

Industrial Designers

Design ProfessionalBiomimicry Specialist

Service Designers

BiologistBiomimicry Professional

Design Management

Graduate Students


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References

Personal Interviews:

Leopold Le Chevrier Darnet GeranteChatal Jullien

Member Check Interviews:

Florence Thurston Laurence L’Hôtellier

Sodexo Manager

Advisors:

Jung-Kap “Paul” Cheon Jackson HeddenMichelle Muller Sherry Ritter, MScRegina Rowland, Ph.D. Breana Russell

Yiran Wang

Resources:

Baumeister, D., & Tocke, R. (2014). Biomimicry resource handbook: a seed bank of best

prac-tices (2014 ed.). Missoula, Montana: Biomimicry 3.8.

Bees, hornets and wasps. (n.d.). Got Pests? Retrieved May. 6, 2015, fromhttp://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/gotpests/bugs/bees-wasps.htm

Dr. Neil Canter. (2009). Humpback whales inspire new wind turbine technology.Tech Beat , Retrieved fromhttp://www.stle.org/assets/news/document/techbeat_tlt_12-08.pdf

John, L. G. (1989) Carnivore dental adaptations and diet: a study of trophic diversity within guilds. Carnivore Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution. (Part III). Retrieved fromhttp://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4757-4716-4_16

Martin, R. (n.d.). No guts, no glory. Biology of Sharks and Rays.Retrieved May. 6, 2015, from http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/white_ shark/digestion.htm

Willsher, K. (2015, May 25). Man who forced French supermarkets to donate food wants to take law global. The Guardian . Retrieved fromhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/25/french-supermarkets-donate-food-waste-global-law-campaign?CMP=share_btn_fb

Our team gives great thanks...

To Nature:

Thank you for being our greatest teacher and for constantly showing us your beauty,and your solutions to any problem we might face. Thank you for guiding us throughthe entire process of our design.

To Regina Rowland and Sherry Ritter:

Thank you for dedicating time and energy, and for your perseverance, and leadershipthrough this project. Thank you for imparting condence, enabling growth, andhelping us to better our skills in design and design strategies.

To Dayna Baumeister, Biomimicry 3.8, and Biomimicry Institute:

Thank you for providing this fantastic opportunity to learn from nature’s genius andbecome certied in Biomimicry through this class. Thank you, Biomimicry Institute,for your inspiration through the Global Design Challenge.

To Florence Thurston:

Thank you for guiding us and translating our protocols and interviews. Thank you fortaking time to assist us in organizing our events and ecological excursions.

To the locals of Provence, France:

Thank you for welcoming us into your culture and region. Thank you for allowing usto dig deep into our research and explore your place of pride and traditions.

To SCAD’s School of Design:

Thank you for giving us this opportunity to study and to be inspired in beautifulLacoste, France, and for the amazing research trip to the Milano EXPO to studyglobal food systems. Additionally, thank you for offering classes that allow us to growand learn to become the best designers in the eld.

loop system - design process

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