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I have a strong interest in environmental sustainability issues particularly as they relate to broader issues of India’s economic growth. All sectors – agriculture, manufacturing and service have one common byproduct- waste which can be tangible or intangible.
Most of the time, waste is perceived as a problem and not an opportunity. The objective of my project, titled ‘ Water as Value Essence’, was to focus on a specific scenario and provide strategic solutions based on contextual possibilities so that it would lead to a useful, implementable system design instead of a generalized and standard design. The particular scenario I focused on was the Waste Management System of the National Institute of Design (NID) at Paldi, Ahmedabad.
The process started with overall understanding of existing efforts in waste management at national and international level. Next, I audited the context (NID, Paldi campus) to find out the type of material, quantity, its’ flow in the environment, perception of people, workers and authorities. I employed various techniques like questionnaire, random material measurement, material tracking and observation for quantitative data. For qualitative data, body storming and metaphor elicitation techniques (ZMET) where used. This rich information was synthesized, which surfaced concerns. I then focused on design directions.
The final design deliverable was a proposal for a new system and related general interventions, incorporating an understanding of efficient and productive working, speedy return of investment (ROI) , and sustainability by making it flexible to work in various combination to reduce NID’s waste disposal and directing it towards being a zero waste community. |
