“Return” Program Thesis Proposal 1

Overview//Introduction
I choose this topic as my thesis because it would be a great way to run a grocery store. There have been similar things done in the UK and in Japan. They are not quite the same because they don’t focus on all grocery store goods. They have select items that require you to bring your own containers. They focus on fruit and dried goods, we have systems like this in Canada such as the Bulk Barn. Global warming and other crises related to waste and co2 emissions are all in the popular media right now. This is a project that could help if it were to be successful. An issue that also came up recently that proved we needed a change was the Toronto garbage strike, garbage was piling up all over the city. Spadina Ave. was absolutely atrocious.

Abstract
By studying the return program which the LCBO/Beer Store I will be able to apply it to a grocery store. If the return rate is high enough for per say a glass container that contains meat, then the customer will return it. Designing a new shopping cart would be involved, because the current one may not work with the new designs of the containers. Also some sort of device will need to be created for the costumer to be able transport their food with ease.

Research Question
Designing packaging, which can adopt the “return” program within a grocery store.

Research Problem
I chose this topic because there is a need to reduce the amount of waste we create. After thinking for a while about how much waste comes from a household. I decided to categories it to see where the majority of the waste comes from within a household. My observation directed me towards food, the amount of packaging that food requires is unbelievable. The amount of plastic bags that are still being used by grocery shoppers every day is a serious issue. Another huge issue that is current is the amount of plastic bottles used for water; once again this could also be targeted in my thesis. My goals are to design a grocery store that would use reusable containers, and to create a new system for carrying the reusable containers other then bags.

Audience
The audience for this thesis is for homeowners, housewives, students and everyone else who does the grocery shopping for them self or for whoever they are living with. This thesis is directed at individuals who do grocery shopping. They are the individuals that will be targeted because they are the ones who make the choices as to what product they are going to buy; and they will decide if they will return the re usable container.

Realization
After a lot of ethnographic research is done, I will have a concrete idea of what the deliverables might be; and how I will solve the problems that has been created. Some of the deliverables I can for see may include Packaging, Branding, Web Design, posters, pamphlets, brochures etc. I can see a lot of necessary production for this project to work. If there is time I could go to lengths to design a new shopping cart and also an object to help carry the re usable containers. This means I will possibly be getting into some
Industrial Design.

Learning Outcomes
The learning outcomes of this project will most likely change, but at this point I can see myself producing some packaging. I will be designing a new system and I will end up branding a new grocery store. Branding and packaging will increase my experience as a designer. If I am lucky I might get to work with an industrial designer which would be a learning experience. All of these things will help my portfolio, having a large assignment in there will create more diversity.