Low Carbon Project – Promotion

We created some promotional items to advertise the labels and help consumers identify with the labels and what we are trying to do.

Above are some promotional posters that I created for the food packaging labels. I used a play on words to add some humour to the concept. There can be a series of them, on for each different label, with a play on words for each. I think this will help to engage customers more. These can be put up around the store to help raise awareness about the labels and their use.

We also want to create a promotional package, and envelope that will be given to the consumer when they go to the check out for the first few months after the labels are released. This will help to promote the labels and help consumers identify with them so that they begin to familiarise themselves with each of the labels so that they actually make use of them.

What is in the promotional package?

An A5 envelope containing the following :

A informational magnet, Strip of labels (3 of each) to go on any pre-bought food the consumer already has, an A5 version of one of the humorous posters

This is what the agent will look like. Something that the consumer can put on their fridge and refer to each time, to remind themselves of where everything should go.

Low Carbon Project – Label in action

Here are the labels we created in use. I think they are effective, they stand out because they are different and colourful, grabbing the eye. I think if a consumer were to see that label they would be intrigued to know/read what it is about. It is very clear and identifiable, so I really think it will help people to organise their fridges and keep everything in the correct place, which in turn will reduce the amount of household food waste.

Low Carbon Project – Promotion

Below is the video we put together to help visually explain the overall idea. We will use this to pitch the idea to the client.

 

Below is a digital poster that my partner created in order to help promote the idea. It is a bit of a humorous twist, as although it is a serious topic, we wanted to add some humour to it to make it more interesting and memorable to our audience.

I will now create a print poster that will also help to promote the idea. It will have the same concept as the digital poster, in the sense that the item will have a speech bubble explaining where it belongs and why.

Low Carbon Project – Label Designs

These were our initial label designs. We decided that we wanted to go for one that was quite simple, but informative, so initially we chose the one below.

We chose this label as it had a bold colour, which caught the eye. We were going to colour code each different category so that it was easily identifiable. It had the most important information on (where to store each item of food) in the colourful part at the top, as that is the first thing your eye will be drawn too. We then had some extra information which would either be the reason why you store your food there, or an interesting fact about food storage. At the bottom it then had the best before date. However we received feedback saying that essentially the label is a bit boring and we would be better to have something that was a little more visual. It was suggested that the label could be an actual outline of each food (meat, fish etc.) so we went back to the drawing board.

I came up with these as our final label idea. Each label will be something that represents that specific food category, so the pear represents fruit, Juice carton – juice/drinks, fish – fish, slice of meat – meat, eggs – egg box,  dairy – cheese, broccoli – vegetables, ready meals – container/pot, condiments – jar.

Overall I think that these labels look a lot better than our original design. It is a lot more visual, but we have kept the designs simple without too much detail. They will definitely catch the eye when on the packaging, which is what we want. In order for our concept to work, the label needs to catch the attention of people so that they will read the information. When we first received the feedback we were worried that using the actual food item to represent the label would look a bit childish. However, I think these designs work well and we managed to make them look fun without being childish, which will appeal to adults.

Low Carbon Project – Research

Idea explained – Our idea is to create food packaging labels that go on packaging to tell you where to store that particular item of food in the fridge so that it lasts longer in order to minimise food waste.

What will happen? – the idea is that we will produce all food labels to give to each supermarket. When they package their food they will just have to stick the correct label on.

This process will not be very costly, as all we need to do is produce the labels and they stick them on theirselves. It will not take much time as it will go on at the same time as the other food packaging labels are stuck.

A very affordable and easy attempt to reduce the amount of household food waste.

Research – Looking at labels :

Research – fridge storage information :

Low Carbon Project – Final Idea Revised

We decided to focus on the food labels in an attempt to minimise food waste, as we felt that the extension lead idea was not really going anywhere.

We had asked a product design student to design an overall look for the extensions lead, however we were unsatisfied with what we got back. The design was unoriginal and looked pretty much the same as any other extensions lead. I think this put us off that idea a bit, and focused our energy on the food label project which we were really happy with.

Below is the extension design that we received. I feel like it was also partly our fault, because although we had described to her what we wanted, maybe she did not quite understand. We should have worked  bit more closely with her to make sure we got a design that was closer to what we had initially expected.

 

Final Idea Feedback

Final Idea : App-controlled extension lead

An app on the users phone will be connected to the extension lead. In the app there will be different categories for plug 1, 2, 3, 4 etc where you can control whatever is plugged into each plug (hair straighteners/iron/heater/lamps). The app will send the user a notification if they have left something on. The app can send you a notification if it has been left on for more than an hour, for example.

Feedback

1. Adults don’t usually plug a lot of things in one place. Maybe focus on a different target audience, such as  Kids/teenagers/young adults, who tend to do this more in their rooms.
2. As well as the app-controlled extension lead idea, also focus on the minimising food waste idea – it is a very simple, but effective idea that not many people seem to know about. Make it interesting – add fun/humour.

Our thoughts

1. I think we will stick to creating a general extension that anyone could use, because the whole point of the extension is that people will buy this in order to save on electricity. Kids are not as aware about being energy efficient, so the purpose of the extension would not be as well perceived.
2. We will definitely try to develop the food waste idea as well as the app-controlled extension. Originally we thought it was too simple, but after presenting this idea we realised that not many people know much about this at all, so could be a very effective way of minimising food waste.

Low Carbon Project – More Ideas!!

Low Carbon Project Ideas

Housing heat detectors  

Heat detectors can be installed into houses, which will use heat sensors to sense whether you are in a certain room. If not it will automatically turn off the lights in that room after a few minutes to save on electricity

2-way pipe system in new developments 

Each new development in London can be equipped with a two way piping system.

One pipe will be for ‘clean’ water to shower, drink, dishwasher etc.

Second pipe will be for secondary/‘dirty’ water – the water we have used for our shower, dishwasher etc can then be reused for the toilet/washing machine (dirt can be slightly filtered).

Minimising food waste  

You can minimise food waste by learning where exactly to store your food in the fridge/freezer in order to maximise the amount of time that it lasts for. Food labels are put onto packaging, which tell you where/how to store food. For example – ‘store this in the fridge door, or on the top shelf of the fridge’.

HouseDr. (House controlling app) 

An app, which is connected to a sensor within your house. It senses whether the heating or any lights/electrics have been left on after you have left the house. It will then send you a notification alerting you to this and you will then have the option to turn it off.

There are separate categories within the app, the heating category, for example, tells you the temperature in your house. The user can set it so that you will get an alert once the house reaches a certain temperature so that you can switch it off. Each category (heat/gas/electrics/water) has tips on how to be energy efficient is each area.

LightDr. (In-house light controlling app)

Similar to HouseDr however only with lights. After speaking with some people from product design, we figured that including heating would make it very complicated, as a lot of people have different heating systems etc

The app on the phone is connected to a device which is plugged into an electrical socket in the users house. It senses when you have left the house and will send you a notification if you have left a light on. You can then switch the light off using the app in order to save electricity.

Each day the app will give you a daily tip on how to save on electricity, heat, gas and water.

Final Idea

App-controlled extension lead

An app on the users phone will be connected to the extension lead. In the app there will be different categories for plug 1, 2, 3, 4 etc where you can control whatever is plugged into each plug (hair straighteners/iron/heater/lamps). The app will send the user a notification if they have left something on. The app can send you a notification if it has been left on for more than an hour, for example.

Low Carbon Project – Initial Ideas!

Pitching for the 2016 Low Carbon Entrepreneur competition

Brief :

“We’re after your bright ideas to help reduce carbon emissions in London. Your idea should be original and practical. You should also be clear about how you plan to develop your idea and ultimately turn it into reality. Remember that carbon is emitted from pretty much every action you take everyday – the way you travel, what you eat and what it is packaged in, the water you use, and the clothes you buy. Could you find a better and smarter way?”

Initial Ideas :

2 pipe system in new developments – Each new development in London can be equipped with a two way piping system.

One pipe will be for ‘clean’ water to shower, drink, dishwasher etc.

Second pipe will be for secondary/‘dirty’ water – the water we have used for our shower, dishwasher etc can then be reused for the toilet/washing machine (dirt can be slightly filtered)

Heat detectors – Houses can install heat detectors which detects heat to know whether you are in a certain room. If not it will automatically turn off the lights in that room

Cooking – Food packaging can have a special bar code that the oven can scan and set exactly the right temperature saving as much energy as possible.

Initial stages – ‘Final Idea’ (to be refined) :

Home carbon controlling app

An app that sends you a notification that alerts you if you leave the house and have left a light/heating/gas on so that you can switch it off from the app.

The app will contain different categories for heating, water, gas, electrics – in each category there are facts on how to be more carbon/energy efficient in those areas

The app will tell you the temperature of your house and alerts you when it gets to a certain temperature so that you can turn the heating off

There would need to be some kind of sensor in the house, maybe a ball that changes colour depending on the temperature of the house (red = too hot, blue = too cold, purple = just right). Otherwise a sensor that can be fitted into the ceiling of your house that has sensors as well as a thermometer and is able to control heating and electrics.

Grouping :

In order to make this idea work, I will need to have a strong design team. Myself and Elizabeth came up with the initial idea, but will need help with the design and build.

Product design student – someone to help create the actual sensor for your house and helps with the app development and ideas.

Graphics student – to help with logo design and overall look of the app

Motion graphics student – to help create the app