UrbanCentric Innovation

spring 2020 | key words: systems thinking, speculative design, urbanism, ethnography, mapping

project overview

"UrbanCentric Innovation" addresses the urgent issues of climate change and urbanization through a comprehensive research and design initiative. With a focus on uncovering the essence of innovation across different impact levels, this project takes a multifaceted approach.

APproach

To gain insights into consumer behavior, I conducted primary research within the vintage and secondhand market, offering an ethnographic understanding of consumption patterns. Additionally, I delved into historical research to map the evolution of Studio Nab's urban vertical farm, providing context for contemporary urban agriculture initiatives. Finally, I explored future scenarios by envisioning a sustainable New York City borough as a "forest city," examining potential impacts and externalities of innovative urban planning designs.

Challenges

This project uncovered challenges inherent in the adoption of sustainable practices, revealing a lack of awareness and systemic thinking in the design and implementation of solutions. It underscored the interconnectedness of past, present, and future actions, emphasizing the need for speculation and systems-thinking in innovation design. Ultimately, it highlighted the imperative of considering long-term impacts to minimize negative externalities.

Impact & Reflection

On a personal level, this project reshaped my understanding of innovation, influencing my professional practice and values as both a designer and citizen. It underscored the importance of thoughtful, future-informed solutions to address complex societal challenges.

in-no-va-tion

noun

Designing a solution to a problem, for the right people at the right time, by grounding oneself in the past to ensure a future that benefits from its use rather than one that suffers from its disruption. such solutions should be designed through human-centered principles, with cognizance of potential consequences at all phases of research, design, and implementation.