Citizen science, an approach where the general public collaborates with academic researchers to contribute to scientific research, offers significant benefits for both science and society. Despite its potential, the field faces significant challenges that limit its impact, particularly in maintaining participant motivation. Additionally, citizen science projects often struggle with issues related to cost, especially when they incorporate physical measuring instruments. Limited budgets typically result in instruments that lack robustness, usability, and scalability, further diminishing participant engagement, and in turn, the overall effectiveness of citizen science initiatives. These challenges formed the foundation of the project’s goal: design a measuring instrument for citizen science to enhance engagement.

Collaborating with design studio Dott Achilles, the project explored not only the technical and user-centred aspects of the design, but also the question whether commercialization could facilitate broader participation. The goal was to develop a product that could lower barriers to participation and increase incentives for both researchers and participants while adhering to the core principles of citizen science, such as transparency, ethical data use, and inclusivity.

To inform the design process, a comprehensive analysis of citizen science was conducted, combining a literature review with stakeholder interviews to identify key principles, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. This research led to the development of a vision for a modular, scalable and user-friendly product-service system that could engage a diverse range of participants across varying contexts, balancing the needs of citizen scientists, researchers, and local organizers.

Through an iterative process involving exploring, prototyping, testing, and refinement, a final product emerged centred around a physical measuring instrument. The instrument features customizable sensor modules and various mounting options, enabling deployment in numerous contexts, including outdoor residential and natural settings. Its plug-and-play design ensures accessibility for users, regardless of their technical expertise. The design adopts a stylized, friendly, and approachable aesthetic that aligns with citizen science principles and increases adaptability. Additionally, the design incorporates elements to inform non-participating, ambient users, stimulating trust and transparency. The robust, scalable, and repairable design allows the instrument to be reused across multiple projects, reducing environmental impact and enabling new financial models.

An integrated online platform complements the physical instrument. Features such as real-time data visualization, personalized feedback, and tools for data exploration and comparison were explored at a functional level, aiming to enhance participants’ motivation by acknowledging the critical role of their contributions. Particular attention was given to the interactive installation help that utilizes the instrument’s design cues to guide users during installation. This feature, alongside the instrument’s general usability, was validated through a usability study and expert reviews.

This thesis demonstrates how design can address the challenges of citizen science, particularly in relation to physical measuring instruments. By creating an impactful product that empowers citizens, enhances engagement, and supports local organizers, the project contributes to maximizing the scientific and societal impact of citizen science.

Aura is a desk accessory which motivates you towards performing physical activities in the form of micro-activities.

This thesis, “Algae as a Transformative Agent in Food Ecosystems,” authored by Kashish Ramrakhiani under the supervision of Dr. Nazli Cila and Dr. Laurens Kolks, explores the potential of algae in redefining the food ecosystem. The study situates itself within the framework of Human-Food Interaction (HFI) and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), addressing sustainability challenges in the global food system.

The global food system faces significant sustainability challenges, including resource depletion and environmental degradation. Rising demand for animal products has increased meat and milk production, contributing to environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emissions. Veganism, while reducing these impacts, can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Algae, rich in essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamins, and minerals, emerges as a viable solution to address both environmental and dietary needs.

Following Actor Network Theory (ANT), the research views Algae as a ‘transformative agent’ within the food ecosystem. By adopting a more-than-human lens, the study challenges traditional hierarchies and advocates for a more thoughtful approach to algae care, supported by speculative design methodologies. The research employs a combination of methodologies, including literature reviews, interviews, ethnographic observations, and speculative scenario planning.

These methods uncover key insights into the complex entanglements within the food industry that would be influenced by the integration of algae as a transformative agent, as well as the ripple effects this could create throughout the food ecosystem. The findings also emphasize the critical need for a shift in how we treat algae, highlighting the risk of repeating the exploitative patterns seen in other established food industries. The thesis imagines a speculative scenario where algae bioreactors are common in food production, backed by innovative policies and education programs that highlight algae’s role in sustainable food systems.

The study’s design vision culminates in the ‘Algacare Conference,’ an immersive event designed to educate and engage food industry stakeholders about the potential future role of algae. This speculative event is presented through a website and video, connecting today’s realities with future possibilities in a way that is both accessible and forward-thinking.

This thesis suggests that algae could be a transformative force in food ecosystems. It advocates for recognizing algae not just as a food source but as a key player in creating a sustainable and ethical food system.

Designers in practice face multiple challenges while aiming to solve social problems, most of them require the gathering of multiple viewpoints, types of knowledge, and the consideration of conflicting angles. This type of work, known as transdisciplinarity, is a challenge on its own. Designers often face difficulties in explaining their process to other practitioners, leading to communication gaps. Most of the efforts on communicating design are focused within the design community and do not adequately target other disciplines and practitioners.

The primary goal of this project is to create an open and streamlined communication platform for
practitioners beyond the design community. The aim is to introduce users to design methods using specific sensitizing concepts that will familiarize them with design practices, thereby increasing awareness of the value design methods offer beyond the design community.

Global temperatures are rising, and climate change is leading to an increase in extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, storms and fires (WMO, 2022). The increase in unusually hot days and heatwaves is also noticeable in Melbourne, Australia. By 2050, Melbourne is projected to have an annual average of 16 hot days above 35°C (DELWP, 2019). Extreme heat and heat waves have significant impacts on people's health, the economy, the environment and the city’s infrastructure assets.

To address this issue, this graduation project focused on the development of a toolkit that engages different stakeholders in the design of heat-adapted streetscapes for a cool pedestrian network in Melbourne. Research into the shortcomings of existing often text-heavy cooling toolkits motivated the aim of making the new toolkit tangible and interactive. Literature research identified suitable cooling interventions for Melbourne's climate, while insights from placemaking research inspired the inclusion of placemaking, wayfinding, and walkability aspects into the toolkit to address the overall pedestrian experience beyond just cooling. Based on the research findings, the toolkit was developed and refined through interactive feedback sessions with the council. The final design was tested through co-design workshops in which the city council and citizens trialled the toolkit by developing a streetscape concept for Drewery Lane in Melbourne.

The developed toolkit suggests a new approach to developing heat-adapted public spaces. While existing cooling toolkits are mainly text-heavy documents targeted at governments, planners and policymakers, this new toolkit aims to engage both experts (such as the council and design practitioners) and non-experts (such as citizens) to collaboratively develop concepts for cool streetscapes in Melbourne. Through its gamified approach, the toolkit provides an interactive and engaging manner of exchanging knowledge by 1) learning about citizens' current and future desired experiences within the streetscape, 2) engaging the council’s policy and the design practitioners’ planning knowledge and 3) by providing relevant yet easy-to-understand and accessible information about different cooling interventions. The toolkit also addresses the overall pedestrian experience beyond just cooling by prompting the consideration of placemaking, wayfinding and walkability aspects.

The main recommendations for the future are to 1) further test and refine the toolkit through co-design workshops with all stakeholders, 2) investigate how resulting streetscape concepts can be evaluated in terms of their cooling capacity and 3) consider the development of a community-led version of the toolkit.