UniFresh Service
A student-run initiative that aims to provide affordable nutrition to students on campus.
UniFresh Service
A student-run initiative that aims to provide affordable nutrition to students on campus.
Overview
Context
Context
Academic
Group Project
Fall 2023
Role
Role
UX Researcher
UX Designer
Timeline
Timeline
8 weeks
Tools
Tools
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Where it started
The rising costs of education, housing, and food has lead to nearly 40% of Canadian university students grappling with food insecurity. This struggle goes beyond hunger; it affects mental well-being, physical health, and academic success.
At my university, where students often complained about having to prioritise tuition and housing over meals, I designed a student-led initiative to make nutritious food more affordable and accessible on campus.
At my university, where students often complained about having to prioritise tuition and housing over meals, I designed a student-led initiative to make nutritious food more affordable and accessible on campus.
At my university, where students often complained about having to prioritise tuition and housing over meals, I designed a student-led initiative to make nutritious food more affordable and accessible on campus.
Project Overview
FIRST CHALLENGE
FIRST CHALLENGE
Lacked an understanding of the scale of this issue and the current steps taken to tackle it.
Lacked an understanding of the scale of this issue and the current steps taken to tackle it.
Discovering the Pain Points
Discovering the Pain Points
It isn’t just about affordable food. It is about building trust, shared spaces, and collaborative systems.
It isn’t just about affordable food.
It is about building trust, shared spaces, and collaborative systems.
— Student Interviewee
— Student Interviewee
"
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Key Insights
Key Insights
83%
83%
Issues in Accessing Off-Campus Services
Issues in Accessing Off-Campus Services
Many students found accessing off-campus food services inconvenient due to distance and time constraints.
Many students found accessing off-campus food services inconvenient due to distance and time constraints.
76%
76%
Lack of Shared Community
Lack of Shared Community
There were several students that highlighted a sense of discomfort in discussing food insecurity with faculty.
There were several students that highlighted a sense of discomfort in discussing food insecurity with faculty.
?
?
73%
73%
Appreciate Advocacy, Gap in Resources
Appreciate Advocacy, Gap in Resources
While students appreciate the current on-campus advocacy for food insecurity, they found them inadequate for their needs.
While students appreciate the current on-campus advocacy for food insecurity, they found them inadequate for their needs.
Anonymous Surveys / 50 Participants
Anonymous Surveys / 50 Participants
I conducted anonymous surveys with students that were aware and/or utilised campus food services.
Qualitative Interviews / 10 Interviewees
Qualitative Interviews / 10 Interviewees
I spoke with on-campus services and interviewed eight students that experienced food insecurity.
To resolve this challenge, my colleague and I dived into an intensive three week research period, where we wanted to understand:
To resolve this challenge, my colleague and I dived into an intensive three week research period, where we wanted to understand:
What are the main pain points of students affected by food insecurity?
What solutions currently exist, and is there something lacking in them?
What can we do as students to address this issue?
What are the main pain points of students affected by food insecurity?
What solutions currently exist, and is there something lacking in them?
What can we do as students to address this issue?
What are the main pain points of students affected by food insecurity?
What solutions currently exist, and is there something lacking in them?
What can we do as students to address this issue?
While they provide valuable resources, they don’t focus on peer connection and a supportive space for students to share their experiences and challenges.
While they provide valuable resources, they don’t focus on peer connection and a supportive space for students to share their experiences and challenges.
So what do they lack?
So what do they lack?
ADVOCACY
COMMUNITY
RESOURCES
Design Opportunity
No current initiative where students can come together and share resources.
Wellness Kitchen
They focus on mental wellness of students, and use food as a medium.
Student Union
They provide advocacy and support important student collectives.
Vancouver-wide Focus
Vancouver-wide Focus
What are the Current Solutions?
What are the Current Solutions?
University Based Solutions
University Based Solutions
What can we do as students?
What can we do as students?
I explored the campus initiatives at our university that focus on student support to see how we, as students, could contribute further.
I explored the campus initiatives at our university that focus on student support to see how we, as students, could contribute further.
SECOND CHALLENGE
SECOND CHALLENGE
The Turning Point: Shaping the Vision for UniFresh
The Turning Point: Shaping the Vision for UniFresh
After reviewing our research findings, my colleague and I felt overwhelmed by the volume of information. However, we noticed a shift in our perspective as we needed to create a service that not only addressed the logistical issue of providing food, but also fostered a sense of community among students.
After reviewing our research findings, my colleague and I felt overwhelmed by the volume of information. However, we noticed a shift in our perspective as we needed to create a service that not only addressed the logistical issue of providing food, but also fostered a sense of community among students.
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
How might we design a service that alleviates food insecurity among students while fostering peer connection + collaboration?
How might we design a service that alleviates food insecurity among students while fostering peer connection + collaboration?
Initial Brainstorming
Initial Brainstorming
Narrowing it Down
Narrowing it Down
Core Features of the Service
Core Features of the Service
Peer Driven Focus
We had to keep our service be entirely student-run to promote peer connection and encourage empathy.
We had to keep our service be entirely student-run to promote peer connection and encourage empathy.
Evening Service
We need to offer our service in the evenings to address the lack of meal options for students with late classes.
We need to offer our service in the evenings to address the lack of meal options for students with late classes.
Affordable Resources
We decided to provide free meals and low-cost groceries as our service for students on campus.
We decided to provide free meals and low-cost groceries as our service for students on campus.
Sustainability
Funded through grants, donations, gradual revenue, and partnerships with local suppliers.
Funded through grants, donations, gradual revenue, and partnerships with local suppliers.
Refining our Concept
Visualising the Whole Process
Key Insights
Key Insights
Post Ideation Crisis
This was my first time designing a non-profit service, so I was still confused about the deliverables needed to effectively pitch this idea to potential stakeholders.
This was my first time designing a non-profit service, so I was still confused about the deliverables needed to effectively pitch this idea to potential stakeholders.
Student Customers
Student Customers
Students that receive the deliverables of this service.
Students that receive the deliverables of this service.
Student Volunteers
Student Volunteers
Students that train and help manage the service.
Students that train and help manage the service.
Grocery Suppliers
People that supply our service with the groceries.
People that supply our service with the groceries.
01
Identifying our User Groups
The blueprint helped us clearly identify our key user groups, prompting us to focus on student customers to meet their needs while ensuring a smooth experience for volunteers and suppliers.
The blueprint helped us clearly identify our key user groups, prompting us to focus on student customers to meet their needs while ensuring a smooth experience for volunteers and suppliers.
02
Integration with University Communication
In order to reach all students effectively, we had to share our event’s information through existing university communication channels (e.g., weekly emails or newsletters.)
In order to reach all students effectively, we had to share our event’s information through existing university communication channels (e.g., weekly emails or newsletters.)
03
Optimising Grocery Service Frequency
A weekly produce market may not be feasible initially due to financial constraints. So, we decided to start with fewer, well-planned grocery events and reassess the frequency based on demand.
A weekly produce market may not be feasible initially due to financial constraints. So, we decided to start with fewer, well-planned grocery events and reassess the frequency based on demand.
WEEKLY PRODUCE MARKET
BIWEEKLY MEAL SERVICE
Tuesdays & Thursdays
6pm to 8pm
Frozen meals & Snacks
Located at the Wellness Kitchen
Put groceries in given box
Pay by weight of box
Details of the Service
Fridays
12pm to 3pm
Fit-in-a-box groceries
Located at the ECSU Activity Room
Details of the Service
Storyboarding the Student Experience
Storyboarding the Student Experience
For Students, By Students
UniFresh Service
Your Campus, Your Nutrition
Post Refining the Service
Post Refining the Service
Our Big Idea: Introducing UniFresh
Our Big Idea: Introducing UniFresh
THIRD CHALLENGE
THIRD CHALLENGE
Making the Dream Work
Making the Dream Work
We recognised that our project might initially seem too radical to integrate into the university’s ecosystem. To bring our idea to life, we focused on ensuring it aligned seamlessly with existing structures by breaking it down and creating a strong visual presence to enhance its credibility.
We recognised that our project might initially seem too radical to integrate into the university’s ecosystem. To bring our idea to life, we focused on ensuring it aligned seamlessly with existing structures by breaking it down and creating a strong visual presence to enhance its credibility.
We recognised that our project might initially seem too radical to integrate into the university’s ecosystem.
To bring our idea to life, we focused on ensuring it aligned seamlessly with existing structures by breaking it down and creating a strong visual presence to enhance its credibility.
Creating an MVP
Creating an MVP
Click to view the MVP to introduce the service in the university over a period of 2 years
Introducing the service in the university over a period of 2 years
Boosting the MVP: Giving UniFresh a Stage
To support our MVP and give our service a visual voice, we designed a website that provides information to our key user groups, and potential stakeholders interested in funding our initiative.
Key Screens of the Website
Key Screens of the Website
Boosting the MVP: Giving UniFresh a Stage
To support our MVP and give our service a visual voice, we designed a website that provides information to our key user groups, and potential stakeholders interested in funding our initiative.
PLAN OF ACTION
PLAN OF ACTION
Next Steps
Next Steps
Secure Collaborators
Secure Collaborators
Connect with potential collaborators, such as local suppliers and relevant organisations to explore opportunities for collaborations and synergy.
Connect with potential collaborators, such as local suppliers and relevant organisations to explore opportunities for collaborations and synergy.
Acquire Funding
Obtain financial support by distributing grant proposals to philanthropic foundations and funding organisations, outlining our project's mission, goals, and potential impact.
Obtain financial support by distributing grant proposals to philanthropic foundations and funding organisations, outlining our project's mission, goals, and potential impact.
Launch and Learn
Launch the MVP on campus and collect feedback; ensuring alignment with their needs will prioritise continuous improvement based on their insights.
Launch the MVP on campus and collect feedback; ensuring alignment with their needs will prioritise continuous improvement based on their insights.
Appendix
Appendix
These are other design methods and frameworks that guided our design decisions in developing this service.
