Bio-me
Interactive kitchen companion for
bio-waste management
PROJECT TAGS
Concept design |
Smart product
PROJECT DETAILS
Designing solo
For TU Delft client
20 weeks part-time
ROLE
Design research in the domains of culture, technology and ergonomics, concept design , rapid prototyping, CAD modelling
DELIVERABLE
Concept design, Concept prototypes
Design Challenge
Bio-Waste Collection in High-Rise Buildings
The project involved a design brief from a prominent municipality to create a bio-waste collection system for high-rise buildings. The key requirements included creating a solution that fits within the existing system, is accessible to residents, and scalable by the municipality. Additionally, the design needed to actively reduce contamination of waste to facilitate easier processing.
Understanding the requirement
Balancing Technical and Behavioral Needs
From the client's brief, I identified three primary design requirements: scalability, accessibility, and compatibility with existing infrastructure. However, reducing contamination was heavily dependent on user behavior. This led me to recognize that addressing user engagement and behavior towards bio-waste separation would be crucial for the success of the system.
Research Insights
Understanding User Perceptions and Motivations
My research, detailed in the Design Justification section, revealed that motivating users to properly separate bio-waste was key. I focused on understanding users' perceptions and habits around bio-waste separation, which is often seen as inconvenient.
Product Vision
Integrating Waste Separation into Daily Routines
To address the problem at its source - within the kitchen where bio-waste is generated - I developed a product vision that emphasizes waste separation as an integral part of the cooking process, rather than an afterthought. This approach aims to shift user motivation and encourage behavior change, making bio-waste separation a habitual action.
To design a product to be integrated into the kitchens of households that motivate the user to separate bio-waste by making separation a part of their cooking process and build their perception of waste as a resource.
List of requirements
Informed by research (detailed in design justification) into user preferences, culture of waste separation, ergonomics, existing technology, I listed down requirements for my product.
Concept
BIO-Me: Your Intelligent Kitchen Companion for Effortless, Engaging Bio-Waste Management
BIO-Me is more than just a bio-waste bin; it’s a smart, integrated kitchen assistant designed to make bio-waste separation effortless and enjoyable. It enhances the cooking experience by interacting with users and becoming a natural part of the cooking process.
Beyond the Bin
BIO-Me isn’t just a tool for waste disposal—it integrates into the cooking culture. By making bio-waste management a fun and seamless process, it encourages users to develop habits around bio-waste separation, reducing contamination and supporting sustainability efforts.
Key Features
Interactive Cooking Companion
BIO-Me transforms the cooking experience by engaging with users through various interactive features. It sets timers, plays music, shares recipes, makes calls, and controls smart home devices, making every cooking session more enjoyable and seamless.
Compact and Efficient Design
The innovative design of BIO-Me reduces the volume of bio-waste by blending it, allowing it to occupy less space. By removing excess water, it also makes the waste lighter and easier to manage, optimizing storage in your kitchen.
Advanced Odor Control
Equipped with an activated charcoal module, BIO-Me effectively neutralizes unpleasant smells, ensuring your kitchen remains fresh and inviting.
Effortless Maintenance
The bio-waste contact body is dishwasher safe, and the surface is designed for easy cleaning. This ensures that hygiene is effortlessly maintained, allowing you to focus on your culinary creations.
Intelligent Waste Management Reminders
BIO-Me keeps you on track by sending smart reminders to dispose of bio-waste regularly. This feature helps integrate efficient waste management into your daily routine, promoting a cleaner environment.
Generous Capacity
With a capacity of up to 4 liters, BIO-Me accommodates the needs of everyday cooking in households.
How Bio-me Works
Research Approach
The design of BIO-Me was informed by comprehensive research, blending insights from cultural studies, user behavior analysis, ergonomic evaluations, and technology research. The research process included both cohort-level and individual investigations, ensuring a thorough understanding of the factors influencing bio-waste management.
Key Research Phases
Cultural Research & Waste Management
The cohort focused on understanding the cultural context of waste separation, using the Circuit of Culture framework. We explored how regulation, representation, identity, and consumption affect waste management behaviors.
Findings:
Inconsistent policies and overwhelming information led to confusion about proper waste separation.
Users believed they were acting sustainably but were often misinformed about the process.
Many users were uncertain whether their separated waste was correctly processed after collection, reducing motivation to participate.
Conclusion: Confusion about the waste management system, combined with incorrect assumptions, made waste separation feel cumbersome and less important to users.
User & Environment Research
In my individual exploration, I analyzed user interactions with their kitchens to determine how bio-waste management could become a seamless part of their cooking routines.
Key Questions:
How can a waste management system fit effortlessly into the kitchen?
What design aesthetics resonate with users in the kitchen?
How can bio-waste separation be integrated into the cooking process?
Findings:
Users favored kitchen tools that fit into their routine without disrupting the cooking process, emphasizing a need for space-saving, efficient solutions that blended with the overall kitchen aesthetic.
Conclusion:
Any solution must align with user habits and avoid being an afterthought during cooking, encouraging regular and intuitive use.
Technology Research
For technology research, I evaluated two methods for processing bio-waste: blending and compressing.
Blending: This method significantly reduced waste volume by breaking down the material and releasing excess water, reducing both space and weight. It also minimized odor by accelerating the decomposition process through moisture reduction.
Compressing: While this method compacted waste, it didn’t offer the same benefits in terms of moisture release or volume reduction as blending.
Conclusion: Blending proved to be the most effective approach for BIO-Me, addressing both space-saving and odor issues while simplifying the waste disposal process.
Concept and form exploration
For concept and form exploration, I considered nudges for humans. cultural influences of animalistic behaviour, gratification and concepts that could motivate users to in a way own their bio-waste and treat it with a certain amount of respect and responsibility.
