01 The Problem
In the US, we rely on a food system focused on large-scale, profit-driven agriculture, relying on monocultures, fossil fuels, and intensive farming practices. It leads to deforestation, soil degradation, waste, and significant greenhouse gas emissions, making it, arguably, the #1 climate crisis driver.
After interviewing a diverse range of people across Los Angeles, including local business owners, commuters, and residents from various neighborhoods, one key insight emerged:
02 Ideation
The idea took shape during my first Figma design and UCSB Designathon's beginner track, where we won first place!
The project, called Surplus, was an app designed to reduce food waste by allowing users to track expiration dates, collect unused food from establishments and other users, with a focus on features tailored to individuals with ADHD, eating disorders, or anxiety.
How can we expand Surplus from a mobile product into food system transformation?
After creating Surplus, I wondered how I could expand this mobile product to tackle the broader issue of food sovereignty—evolving it from a digital tool into a tangible experience that could drive systemic change.
The first step was bringing the digital into the physical world.
Putting the Pieces Together
I envisioned pod: a solution for picking up or sharing food along daily commutes. The app shows users posted items and recommendations, enabling them to collect or leave food at bus stops along their route—no extra travel needed as the app tracks their path.
03 The mobile app
Connecting Communities Through Food: A User Journey
To bring Pod to life, I designed a mobile app that makes food sharing seamless and accessible. The app helps users find and contribute surplus food at designated “pods” in high-traffic transit areas, integrating food access into daily commutes.
Style and Feel
pod’s logo symbolizes two intersections:
A bus stop’s location (the crossroads between two streets)
The intersection of food and transportation.
04 Crossing into the physical realm
Bus Stop (pod) Design
When designing how the pod would look in the physical world, the modular design is tailored to each bus stop, promoting community well-being while adapting to local needs and minimizing resource use.
Material Analysis
My shadowship at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) as a sustainable engineering shadow taught me the importance of conducting a full life cycle analysis of materials – 50% of a building’s carbon emissions occur after manufacturing.
05 Conclusion
Moving forward, I hope to conduct further research to explore how pod can be practically implemented, not just in LA but also other global regions that face similar challenges with food sovereignty and urban mobility.
I am eager to continue pursuing projects where design serves as the medium for impactful change. Thank you so much for reading!