Week 1 Capstone

Just like that, week 1 is done! It’s been a pretty hectic first week, and the shift from holiday mode to work mode is well and truly underway. After a week of work, my project is currently still in a very developmental stage. I’ve spent the week researching issues surrounding sustainability in football, the environmental impacts of football pitches and their upkeep, the feasibility of my concepts, the numbers behind how they could work, the engineering behind how they could work, and what the finished project could be. Along with this, I’ve set up a calendar, a weekly to-do list and begun building a detailed timeline for my project. I’ve also completed the required ethics modules.

For my capstone, I want to create an event based around football being used to redevelop urban spaces to benefit multiple natural species. At the moment, I want to create seed-planting studs, a seed-spreading football, a pitch mock-up, and an information booklet. I want to use areas of green urban space not normally used for sport which could have almost an art piece installed from the seeds planted throughout the game. It would create a 1 of 1 layout of stuff growing that showcased the exhibition game that took place there. Seed packs used would be chosen to specifically benefit the wildlife of the urban areas used. It could also use the event to raise awareness for greener football. Could showcase to clubs how they could improve their set-ups, i.e. different fertilisers, new plantlife around fields, paints used, water used, etc. This could be done through a casebook/information booklet.

This week I researched the mechanics of retractable pens and how the pressure placed on the top of the pen allowed the ballpoint to retract. I was hoping I could use similar mechanics to create a stud that allows seeds to pop out of the bottom when pressure is applied to the stud. However, I found that it took a team of 66 designers to create the mechanics of the first retractable ballpoint pen, resulting in a bit of a shock to my system. With this, I began looking into alternative ways to turn a stud into something that can release seeds while in use.

I also looked into the size and shape of the studs I could use, as well as how these affect the number of seeds that could be stored, plus the size of common seeds. However, I found that a lot of data needed to be included for the specific sizes of certain seeds I wanted to use (like the size of a Carex Comans seed). This is frustrating but should be easy to bypass by purchasing and measuring seeds myself.

At this moment in time, the main tools and technologies I’m using are Google and Miro, as well as a tape measure and a calculator. Since it’s still early on in my project, I’ve spent the week using these tools to try and validate the feasibility of my ideas and to develop my brainstorms further. Further down the line, I’m considering the use of 3D printed moulds for creating the housing for my stud idea, as well as to create the intricate mechanical pieces for the inside of the studs. Along with this, I’m considering using some of the architecture school tools to create a detailed scaled-down mock-up of what my final solution could look like.

The strengths of Google come from the sheer size of it as a tool. The information it provides is widely available and easy to access. Miro is an excellent tool for collecting all of my ideas in one place, and interlinking them, while also offering formatting tools and templates to plan and collect research. I can’t think of any weaknesses for either of these tools at the moment, but if I come across any they’ll feature on the blog at some point. 3D printing wise, it offers an interesting and accurate way to create moulds and intricate plastic pieces. However, it is time-consuming and sometimes the quality of the pieces is below par.

The main challenge I’ve encountered with week one has been the lack of existing precedents for my idea. This is both a good and a bad thing, as it offers me the opportunity to create something in a field that hasn’t been done before, but it also means I’m heading into the unknown with this project.

The only way I can think of resolving these challenges is to ensure I manage my time efficiently and effectively, and focus on certain principles of my idea, rather than trying to do to much.

The interactions with my friends in design and their feedback and validation on my ideas makes me happy! Being able to research and create something in a field I’m extremely invested and interested in is also something that makes me smile and ensures that I enjoy my work.

So far the anxiety I’ve felt from the sheer scope and importance of my project is the main thing that has made me sad for this project, however I feel as I further grasp my ideas and develop my project further, as well as likely changes to my projects scope, this anxiety will hopefully lessen.

Screenshots from my Miro Board - A brainstorm of ideas