Final Student Project
Gear on the Go
We decided to create an area at the park where people can borrow equipment. Our motivation for why we decided to pursue this project was to increase accessibility for everyone, but especially for lower income families. The ideology behind the project is that it will act like a library, where a person will borrow something during their time at the park and will give it back at the end of the day.
TEAM 12
Sadia
Amelia
Hanan
Dan
Nobel
Coach
Jared Sell
Mentor
Mary Martin
ISSUE DEFINITION
What is the issue?
We are trying to make outdoor equipment more accessible for people in low income families. We believe that accessibility is an issue that many people have. Not everyone has the money to rent out or fully buy equipment. There are people who want to experience and try new sports but they aren’t able to because they don’t have the equipment for it. We believe our idea will allow kids in Cambridge and other areas to have the chance to go out and have fun without worry about having these necessities.
Why is it important?
It’s important to us because we have also faced these problems at least once in our life. We want to be able to find a solution to this and change it so that other people don’t feel their time has gone away solving it as well.
RESEARCH
Summary
Overall: How might we improve access to outdoor gear? In doing so, how would we increase interest in outdoor activities?
Research Methods
- Interviewing people
- Survey
Research Questions
- “How are we going to provide the equipment?”
- “How are we going to track the checked out items?”
- We also want to focus on making this service easy to access for the users.
- We wanted to figure out what returning equipment looks like.
DEFINE
Main Purpose of our Project
- To encourage people to enjoy the outdoors
- Creating an inviting space
- Increase accessibility for lower income families
- Helping people save money when trying out new hobbies
IDEATION
We tried to solve the problem on many different ways.
- First what we tried to do was come up with the idea of creating a space where people can borrow equipments while they are at the park.
- The second idea we came up with was how do we keep track of the tools that we lend to the customers. Then we decided to create website/app to keep track what we borrowed them and also to make it easy to connect and keep them updated.
PROTOTYPES
Initial Prototypes
Prototype Logo 1
Prototype Logo 2
PROTOTYPING-FINAL-PROTOTYPE
Prototype Flyer 2
Process Imagery
Process Imagery
3D Model (Danahey Park)
3D Model (Danahey Park)
Testing
How did we test our prototype?
- We went to a park close by and set out some chalk. The goal was to see if people would would use the chalk and put it back where they found it.
- Another testing we did was making an app
How did you get feedback?
We got feedback by going to the park and checking and by asking questions to the people at the park.
Feedback from the first prototype
- People would like to see things in this park for young children like small toys, balls, bubbles and chalk.
- This app is helpful but what about the people without phones
Final Feedback
What feedback did you take?
There are many smaller children that use this park and that it is important to cater to a specific group of smaller children.
What changes did you make?
A big change made was making sure that we switch up what things we would be included in our gear stand in different locations. For example, if there is a basketball court, we would provide basketballs. But if there is not, what sense does it make to have something there that won’t get used?
Sketches of the next prototype?
For the next prototype I would like to make it clear where to put the items that are being used since our stand isn’t made to just give things away. We want to be able to recycle these items.
Final Prototype
When I had my friends test our second prototype, only minor changes needed to be made, such as outlining the dropdown menus, and adding images to increase visual aesthetics.
Main Features & How We Incorporated Feedback
- Hotline on bottom of page
- Dropdown menu
- By underlining the dropdown menu in usage, we show the user that they’re using the feature
- Pictures
- We tried using bright and clear images to add to the aesthetics
REFLECTION
What would you do differently next time?
Something we would like to do differently next time is think of a way to make it entirely hands off especially in the colder months. It could have been like a vending machine style with less equipment that someone could come to periodically to check in and fix it.
What do you like about the project?
We like the idea that if this were to exist, teenagers could work here over the summer and make money. We think it’s a great way to get them outside and doing something while they are also being rewarded for it.
What do you wish you could do with the project?
We wish we could have actually completed this project. Not only is it something that would have increased accessibility for more people, it would have been a great way for people to have to spend less money and products being used to their max capacity.
NEXT STEPS
If we could continue this project we would have our design tested out with real people in nearby parks. In order to get that started we would:
- Reach out to sport stores to see if they are willing to supply our shops with equipment.
- Reach out to people to see if we can build our shop at danehy park, and find people who can build it for us.
- Find people to hire: Most likely students who work at mayors
- Complete our app and put it in the App store.
