Inspired by specialist interviews ranging from artistic public engagement to sustainable living

Developed themes such as building a personal connection to waste and spurring curiosity

Created messaging that sparked curiosity and delivered sustainable living information relevant to West Loop residents

20 message designs

200 messages displayed in West Loop

Messaging media: reused paper posters, trash art, mud stenciling, seed paper, moss

As design facilitator, I asked guiding questions of the team, to transform provocative themes such as “Use Less” into inspirational and actionable messages: “Use Less, ____ more”

Observed empty lots during ethnographic walking tour

Sketched ways of helping residents envision the potential of empty lots

Pop-up Parks invited passers-by to name the parks and ask their alderman about adding green space to the West Loop

5 pop-up parks installed

As Design Facilitator, I organized the ethnographic walking tour, which led to the discovery of empty lots and inspired Pop-Up Parks

Drew from models of motivation and behavior change

Brainstormed interventions into social norms and perceived ability to improve the environment

Capture Green social media contest: entrants captured sustainability acts via Instagram and Vine. Winners were crowned at Moving Design culminating event at a local brewery.

15 contest entrants

100 event attendees, including West Loop alderman

As design facilitator, I shared models of motivation and behavior change (from a class on that subject at the University of Michigan), which we drew from to effectively engage residents with the Capture Green contest