This was the first assignment for Intermediate Visual Communication Design 2. We were tasked with tracking our individual waste throughout one week. I focused on tracking my waste while making and eating food. While I was tracking my waste, I also took note of how many reusable items I used (such as utensils, pots and pans, etc.). I took notes on my iPad, and then organized those notes in a Google Sheet, and then determined which information I wanted my poster to focus on based on the connections I could find within the sheet.

Research

Final Poster

Initial Notes

Organized Sheet

Data I focused on for the poster.

Iterations

Feedback from the initial round of iterations. (They were arranged in order, with the left iteration being on top.)

After the second round of iterations, I used hexagons to connect the different items, and help show the similarities between the items. I also turned the large circles with the main points of information into a single stacked bar, to help show the relative size of the objects as a whole. This helped compare reusable items and items that were thrown away.

Iteration after feedback from the first round.

Reflection

As a final exercise, we were asked to do a reflection with the following questions based on our experience while we gathered our research.

What…

Happened: For one week I tracked my waste while making and eating food, while also tracking how many reusable items I used.

Was my Role In The Situation: I was responsible for all of the waste thrown away while cooking and eating, and also deciding whether I was going to use a reusable item or something I would be throwing away.

Was I Trying To Achieve/ Understand: I was trying to understand how much waste I produce during a normal week just from eating, and how much I use that is reusable.

Action Did I Take: While gathering information, I didn’t change my habits, to ensure that the results reflected a normal week.

Were The Consequences: While slightly more items were thrown away, it was relatively even in terms of waste vs reusable items. I did realize however, that I had more opportunities to use reusable items than what I actually used.

So What…

Did I Base My Actions On: I was aware that I was recording my waste, but I tried not to let that influence how much I threw away.

Should I Have Done: If I weren’t concerned about keeping my data honest to a normal week, I should have chosen more reusable items when possible.

Other Knowledge Can I Bring: In the final I could have included the material of the items thrown away, and whether or not they could have been recycled instead of thrown away.

Is My New Understanding Of What Had Occurred: This project has made me realize how much I actually throw away in one week, and how little I recycle items.

Now What…

Do I Need To Do To Improve The Situation/ Prevent Recurrence: I need to start recycling my materials more, and also choose to use reusable items.

Are The Broader Issues That Need To Be Considered If New Action Is To Be Successful: Considering we don’t currently have a recycling pick up at our home, I would need to find a local drop off location to take my waste if I were to start recycling more.

Might The Consequences Be: Potentially more gas pollution from driving my waste to the recycling station?

Can I Do To Transfer This Learning Experience To Other Contexts: Considering I work in the food industry, this information could be applied to restaurant’s waste. A lot of food and materials are wasted in the restaurant industry, and we could benefit from introducing recycling within the industry.