Faculty of Arts & Science

Digital Futures

Valeria Suing

Participatory Design for 707 Greens

A participatory design project with Scadding Court Community Centre and OCAD University, focusing on revitalizing the microgreens venture through community engagement and collaborative design, enhancing brand identity and community values.

“About the project:The microgreens revitalization project was a collaborative endeavor between Scadding Court Community Centre (SCCC), OCAD University, and its students, using a participatory design approach. It focused on harnessing the collective creativity and insights of SCCC staff, and a multi-disciplinary team of designers through interviews and context-specific generative tools. This process was dedicated to redefining and amplifying the microgreens venture, with an emphasis on fostering community engagement, enhancing collaborative initiatives, and refining the brand identity to resonate more profoundly with the community values and aspirations.Project results:The project's culmination was marked by the development and delivery of a comprehensive implementation plan. This plan detailed strategic approaches for business execution, including refined branding elements that reflect the venture's core values. My role involved leading a multidisciplinary team in a participatory design process to revitalize the microgreens initiative, focusing on identifying growth opportunities that align with our brand values. Through co-designed sessions, we developed context-specific tools, refined brand prototypes, and a business plan that leveraged data-driven insights to meet the community's unique needs. Our efforts resulted in enhanced brand identity and engagement strategies, demonstrating the power of participatory design in creating meaningful, community-centric solutions.”