Tag: (U1/2/3) Research Techniques/ Obtaining New Knowledge

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Planning and Creating Immersive Natural Event

Event Summary

Immersive Natural Event 21st and 22nd October 11am-3:30pm at Central Saint Martins Canteen Space

This event looks to bring nature into city spaces and provide the health benefits of interacting with nature to people within the space. Such benefits include increased creativity, productivity, and positivity. The event aims to engage people with nature, encouraging nature to be included in their lives further and promoting the community practice I am developing as a space for professionals and designers to collaborate on bringing nature into their work. 

The event will utilise projections and speakers to showcase a video of natural scenery, which is focused upon the water. The video footage and audio are all shot and owned by me. Water is the focus of this event due to my meetings with expert stakeholders, such as Sue Thomas (expert in technobiophilia) who spoke to me about her reading and experience of utilising water to engage people with nature as an often under utilised but highly dynamic force.

All equipment will be loaned from the CSM loan store and so will be PAC tested. 

All cables will be taped down to the floor to avoid any tripping hazards. 

People wishing to get further involved in the event will be asked to write their answers to two simple questions on large sheets of paper, which I will supply. One of the questions will be before and one after their engagement in the event. I will also provide a QR code for people to scan which links to my online community page, should they wish to join.

I will be present at the event for its entire duration.

Aims of Event

  • To showcase innovative, engaging and dynamic ways nature can be brought into city spaces
  • To provide participants with the opportunity to intercat with nature and feel its benefits – such as increased creativity, producivity and positivity; reduced anxiety and stress
  • To establish interest from deisgn experts/ professionals in the CSM community to utilise nature in their work
  • To meet upcoming deisgners and indivudlas interested in making sustainably minded decisions to join my online Nature In Community

All of these aims are focused upon drawing interest in nature amongst creatives, specifically at CSM for this event, to demonstrate the power and value of biophilic design consequently growing interest and uptake in joining the Nature In community.

Planning/ Logistics

  • Origionally this event was to be hosted at Chelsea College of Arts, to have secured that opportunity I have had meetings with Chelsea canteen and estates teams. However, having the event at Chelsea presented a few logistical issues, as the equiptmet to be utilsied in the event is all to be hired from the CSM loan store. Therefore, I was going to have to transport the equiptment from CSM to Chelsea across the two days.
  • Subsequenlty, the estates manager at Chelsea offered to contact CSM estates to see if the event could be hosted in the CSM restaurant instead.
  • After many eails and last minute changes a meeting was arranged with CSM estates, events and canteen to finalise details to host the event at CSM. Thankfully everything was provisionally approved for the event following my risk assessment.
  • Following this meeting I reserached how to formulate a risk assessmnet form for an event and constructed my document to then send to the estates, events and canteen teams.
  • The risk assessment was approved on monday and so everything is now logistically in place for the event on thursday and friday.

Creating Video

  • All footage utilised in the video was shot by me during trips to regents park and also in my recent trip back home ot sheffield, where I live near the Peak District which offered a very valuable opporutnity to gather truley natural shots of water
  • I edited the video utilsing premier pro which was a new software for me and took a while to establish how to create the video I wanted, but I am very happy with the final outcome.
  • The video will loop back on itself to cover teh duration of the event

I also tested projecting the video in my flat to see the impact it would have in the event and test out any issues. Please see the google drive link below to the videos of testing the projector:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13c8jJSqMpDPjT56LJo6_G87xkqE7A1b1?usp=sharing

Measures

  • Assessing the impacts of the event upon participants knowledge of the power and benefits of nature – how they experience these benefits from the event
  • Establishing if the event has insipred participants to utilise nature in their work

To measure these aspects participants will be asked to write their thoughts on a piece of paper upon entry in answer to certain questions:

  • How does this event make you feel about nature?
  • Does this event inspire you to include nature in your work and how?
  • Would you reccommend natural events to people and will you keep in touch?

These questions will also be linked into a google forms page that people can access via QR code to provide added details and also to leave their email for future contact

  • Growing the Nature In Communtiy
    • QR codes linking to LinkedIn Nature In Community, as well as another QR code to the Nature In Facebook Group for people who don’t have LinkedIn

What I Have Learned In Developing This Event:

  • Creating a Risk Assessment form
  • Editing a video to a standard fit for a professional event and utilisng effects on Premier Pro
  • Co-ordinating many different teams from events to estates and the canteen, to logistically get the event running
  • Developing relevant measures for the event are brief enough to ensure responses but that also provide enough infirmation for later effective evaluation
  • How to access not just already established professionals through internet searches on platforms such as LinkedIn; developng this event has helped me learn how to consider all types of professionals to jion the community that can influence change. For instance, the upcoming cutting edge creatives that study at CSM as well as the teachers.

Reflections:

It has been a long process in developing this event, largely due to the location change, and it has gone through many rounds of changes in developing the idea. However, I think with my new project direction centered around community building to tie all the threads of my work together, this event has the potential to be very powerful in changing perspectives and providing ideas/ knowledge of how nature can be brought into city spaces. Hosting the event in CSM is also very exciting to be able to access many upcoming designers which can join the discussions in my community group and begin to consider adding nature into their work.

Ideas Summary for Event:

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Action Plan

In order to set about achieving my newly solidified project aims, I have devised an action plan for the coming weeks. The action plan for the weeks after those outlined will evolve as those weeks draw closer.

WC 18/10/21

  • Finalising details for and promoting immerisve natural event – finish editing vidoe content to project and the natural soundscapes
  • Run immersive natural event on 21st and 22nd
  • Evaluate outcomes of event
  • Hold clubhouse discussion and include in LinkedIn community group
  • Evaluate outcomes of Clubhouse discussion
  • Draft evaluative report
  • Create Dragons Den presentation

WC 25/10/21

  • Conduct Dragons Den presentation
  • Research into community building and practsie
  • Research into posiionality and write my statemnet of positionality
  • Build up content in LinkedIn Communtiy Group and instigate discussion between members
  • Work to attract relevent professionals into the community group
  • Submit draft of evaluative report

WC 01/11/21

  • Finish building up Nauture In website – secure .com domain to go alongside the .co.uk and ensure all hyperlinks and content are polished
  • Publish Nature In website
  • Host Clubhosue discussions
  • Evalute outcomes of Clubhouse discussion
  • Look to arrange a more formal panel discussion hosted via the LinkedIn Community page
  • Build up members in community group
  • Continue to build Nature In instagram to utilise as publicity for the community

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Working with Planted at Planted Cities Event

Last week I assisted in running Planted, which was London’s first zero-waste event. The event exhibited a multitude of ways to connect people to nature, from everything surrounding natural living in sustainable textiles, furniture and even office working pods to panel discussions giving knowledge around biophilia and sustainability; and how to implement them in your lives. The event also showcased a ‘sleeping with nature installation’ which demonstrated sustainable cabins with natural mattresses to demonstrate the benefits of sleeping among biophilic design.

The event was a huge success having over 6000 visitors across the 4 days (Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th September). Subsequently, showcasing a huge market and commercial case for connecting people with nature and the need for sustainability in design. The growing trend and rise in consumer appetite for this movements fit seamlessly in the efforts of my project trying to connect people to nature through hospitality settings.

Personally, helping at this event offered a unique opportunity to meet some of the key experts in my stakeholder groups and even some experts I didn’t know existed prior to the event. For instance, I met people from Strobilo which is a company that measures brainwave patterns resultant from interacting with natural designs and environments. This is a company I am now looking to involve in my immerisve event at Chelsea College of Arts to measure brain wave patterns resultant form interacting with my natural event. The brain waves could demonstrate the quantifiable case for including nature in spaces. This is a big company who have ran events with the likes of Heston Blumenthal to test the impacts of the food experiences on brian waves. Due to the scope of the company I am in discussions as to whether they are able to get involved in my event as it is a lot smaller scale than their normal standard.

Other key companies I met during this event include Plant Designs which design, supply and maintain plants in work places but also in events. Plants Designs are a very exciting company and I am getting in contact regarding possible ways to work with them in the future.

There were many other exciting exhibitors at the event such as smile plastics creating furniture from recycled goods or the Yarn Collective showcasing sustainable and recycled textiles. All of the contacts I made here with the exhibitors will prove invaluable moving forward with my work and even past the scope of my masters.

The team at Planted behind the event are also very interesting and have many future plans for expansion and growth over the next year, as this was their first full-scale event due to covid restorations. I am also in talks with the Planted team on how to progress our working relationship.

Reflection

Being a part of such a large and influential event was truly an amazing experience. I was able to meet so many experts in my field that I have only been able to converse with online via places such as LinkedIn and many I had never spoken with before. It was particularly nice to meet Vanessa Champion in person, who is the editor of the Journal of Biophilic Design, which I recently wrote my article for. Vanessa was an invited panelists speaking on ‘what is biophilic deign?’.

The event was also an amazing experience in reflecting on how far I have come through the progress of my masters journey. Being at the start of my masters I was simply someone who was interested in the subjects of sustainability and biophilia, but being invited to assist in this event signified a change and growth in my position within the field. I felt that now I was an accepted part of the community with everyone striving towards the same goal, as a collective unit – to connect people to nature. It was amazing to be among so many likeminded people and for my work to be robust enough to stand up against the experts in the field to be discussed and respected. This solidified status among biophilic designers and the sustainability movement has allowed me to consider how I can continue to push my ideas further and that my work is something that is both academically significant but also desired by customers and the wider world to provide the benefits of nature through hospitality settings.

Photos

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Soundscapes for Immersive Event at Chelsea

I recently reached out to the British Library and Radio Lento in regards to collaborating to develop unique natural soundscapes for my immersive event at Chelsea on the 7th and 8th October. I am happy to say I have received responses from both parties.

Radio Lento

Radio lento is an independent producer of environmental soundscapes and 3D sounds. At present their sounds are distributed via a podcast and as a start-up, they are currently in the process of acquiring licences to release their sounds to third parties. Therefore, they are sadly unable to offer any sounds out for probono events at the presnet time.

However, I would love to work with them in the future and utilise their sounds when they are available, as they capture some incredible audio from very remote locations; and so they are a great contact to have.

British Libary

I also received a response form Cheryl Tipp at the British Libary, who has been very helpful in directing me to their resources of natural soundscapes that I have been allowed to utilise in my immersive event! The British Libary has a huge range of differing soundscapes from animals to tress in the breeze and water so there is huge potential to apply these sounds in my event and events moving forward, so long as I credit the British Libary in them.

Therefore, over the next week I am going to combine a suitable range of the sounds provided by the British Libary to create a unique soundscape which will be incorporated into my immersive event as a part of my intervention. I may also look to test this soundscape and others I create in the future, in upcoming events at the Chelsea cafe space around the end of October.

Reflection

I am incredibly excited to be able to develop custom soundscapes form y event in collaboration with the british Libary. It is a fantastic resource of sounds that offers real depth in the realism of my immersive natural event.

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Planted Cities Event

Yesterday I had the brilliant opportunity to speak with Sam Peters who is one of the founders of Planted. I recently saw Sam speak at the Fika with Friends conference, which inspired me to get in touch.

Planted is running London’s first zero waste event at Granary Square on the 23-26th September. It was great to hear more about the event and the future plans for Planted. For instance, expanding their podcast outreach, lauching a members area, future events and much more.

  • Panted installation during London Design Festival in Granary Square, King’s Cross

Having spoken to Sam about my work and how our aims are very much alined to connect people to nature in innovative ways, Sam kindly offered for me to get involved in their event this September. Therefore, I will be attending the event on Thursday (23rd) and Friday (24th) and assiting in anyway I can, as well as meeting with the team. This is a very exciting opportuniy to make many more connections within my stakeholder network and learn more about cuttting-edge work in the field of biophilia and sustianability.

I will also look to work with Planted past this event as they continue to expand, and hopefully find key opportunites for overlap and collaboration in our goals.

Reflection

Being invited to take part in the Planted event feels like a big breakthrough in my work, which expresses that my project is valuable to the scetor and my stakeholders. Having this validation of my work that others are interested in it to the point that they want me to collaborate in their work allows me to feel I am on the right track, talking to the right people and persuing new ways to create changes in connecting to nature.

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Meeting with Sue Thomas – Technobiophilia

Yesterday I had a very informative and insightful discussion with Sue Thomas, a pioneer in technobiophilia and she actually coined the term! Our discussion can be seen below and I have also typed up some key points from it.

Discussion Points:

  • Tragetting sense of smell
    • Utilsing perfume spray before food is given out eg: vanilla scent or violet, nothing too over powering that distracts from the food/ drink but something unusual that sets the tone for a natural experience
      • Easily removed from a senario unlike diffusers

  • Technobiophilia experiments
    • Irish phone game of differing landscapes, linked to a meaure of oxygen levels to determine the change in stress levels after experiencing nature
    • Art project in hospital showing live stream of coast or coutryside and the pateints could choose which. The patients were lukemia patients with their vitals measured constantly, but there were no records taken of the impact of the nature on their stress levels
    • Snow ward – Seattle military hospital had to chnage the soilders dressings everyday which caused great pain. So, they developed a VR game to distract them that involved runing and playing in snow, they also sat the soliders in a cold environemnt whilst playing the game. The experiment found that the soliders didnt feel the pain whilst in teh immerisve natural experience!
  • Restaurants could measure oxygen levels in an event or experience to see impacts of natural intercations
    • Utilise finger clip to measure oxygen levels – talk to medical professionals or medical supply company
    • Samsung S8 phone utilise a ‘stressmeter’ on the back of the phones measures the levels of oxygen in the skin which is lower if you are stressed
    • Could measure oxygen levels at the table and take the readings when ordering?
  • Use of sound in natural experiences
    • Contact British Libary and utilse their audio collection, also BBC sound archive
    • Radio Lento collect their own natural soundscapes – ask to collaborate?
  • Connecting people to water as a natural element
    • Implementing a live stream of a wtaerfall into technobiophilic event?
    • Book Blue Mind by Wallace Nichols talks on why we are attracted to water
    • Even utilsie items associated with water eg: fish net decoartions/ plants associated by water
    • Craete that gut reaction of connecting to nature, then the next step can be nudging people to act more sustainably
    • Crashing water soundscapes? – relaxing and exciting at the same time?
    • Ways to recreate the smells of running fresh water?
  • Natural sounds utilsied in spaces
    • Bird song boxes – small reminder of nature that connects you when you walk into an unnatural space
  • Contact biophilic cities – similar to the journal of biophilic design, but American verison, aks to talk with them if anything similar to my ideas is being done in the US that they know of?
    • Look at the likes of cutting edge american innovators eg: silicon valley, portland oregan and california

Reflection

I was so appreciative of the opportunity to talk to Sue as she is so highly respected in the area of technobiophilia. It was brilliant to talk through different academic studies and possible applications of technobiophilia with her. This conversation and the others I have had over the past few days with people like Kristina Libby and Heidi Learaertz have led to great confirmation from my stakeholders that they believe my ideas have the potential to be highly useful, engaging and powerful. This has really inspired me to move into the development of these next ideas iterations of interventions, utilising what I have learnt from my first interventions and building upon the feedback of my expert stakeholders.

Looking towards my next stakeholder meetings of this type, reflecting on my interviewing technique, I feel I need to work to ensure I ask the interviewee more questions to encourage them to talk, as I feel sometimes I fall into the trap of early wanting talk to talk about my ideas and plans which can take over the interview.

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Meeting with Heidi Lenaertz – Targeting the Senses and Technobiophilia

Today I had a very thought-provoking conversation with biophilic expert Heidi Lenaertz. We primarily discussed different ways to approach targeting thes senses in applying biophilic principles to hospitality venues, alongside touching on technobiophilia. The main points I took from the discussion can be found below, as well as the audio recording of the discussion.

Discussion:

  • Opening up the senses – start with scents to target the smell, as this is attached the the oldest part of the brain in evolution meaning once smell is evoked it is easier to open up the other senses.
    • Take into consideration that some people can’t smell
    • See the impact of this on the other senses and compare against evoking a different sense to smell first
    • Could begin with scents that are familiar eg: mint or lavender so people recognise them and compare against less familir or recognisable scents
  • Measuring
    • Ask people what they think/feel/ see when they smell certain things eg; vanilla, pine or coffee
    • Body metrics – blood pressure/ pulse
      • Perspiration of skin – could compare against research with introvert vs extrovert as one’s skin has been found to perspire more than the other – can help to determine how at ease they are
    • Record/ observe facial expresssions eg: smiles/ relaxed/ tense – video reactions and evaluate them
    • Asking participants to choose a colour to represent their feelings – can analyse what meanings can be found behind different colours
      • Could reveal what change or mindsets have occured before and after the experience
      • Self awareness revealed if you ask why they chose that colour
      • Be aware some may be colour blind – could instead chose a texture, possibly of a plant eg: round leaves or spikey

  • Diffusers for smells in technobiophilic experience
    • Blind fold people to heighten their sense of smell?
    • Compare the smells from real herbs vs diffusers – see which people like the most/ what is more agreeable to them
      • See the extent to which people are comfertable with technology/ processed scents eg: if the plants are unable to be utilsied do they feel artifical scents can provide the same benefits?
  • Testing biophilic elements around the experience of having a cup of coffee – low threshold ways to test out biophilic elements
    • Coffee corner – ask people to try the coffee from different tables 1/2/3 and compare – to determine which lighting and visual positioning is best
    • Could even test visuals from the shape of the milk eg: leaf/ heart/ circle
    • Coffee plant – testing real vs plastic plants
    • Vision of coffee beans – either in person or on a poster or even showcasing a video of their production – allows opportunity to showcase any sustainbel actions they are taking eg: transportation
      • Test differnet beans for changes in scent
    • Pour coffee in different cups – modern vs more natural/ leaf shaped or wooden
    • Artificial vs natural light – how to position things within the light

Reflection

I think this disucssion rasied some very interesting differing concepts and ideas. Especially aorund how to measure changes in connection such as recording reactions or asking feelings to be expressed through colours. I also thought targeting senses in differing orders was a concept to look at further the future.

Testing differnet elements in such a simple format in around how people enjoy a cup of coffee could allow for a path/ modle of how to best implement these biophilic elements into hospitality spaces. I think the small scale of this idea to test around the coffee is a very clever one. However, I think the exact details of this type of intervention would need to be refined for the context of my work. This is because at present the ideas around the coffee relate quite heavily to all encompassing upheavals of hospitality spaces if to be scaled up as they resemble testing elemnets of more common biophilic schemes, which is a key factor I am looking to overcome with this project.

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Unit 2 Report

Introduction

My project aims to re-connect people to nature by bringing the outside indoors, focusing on hospitality venues. The project challenges convention through developing natural events, experiences and designs that develop 1-1 personal connections to nature by evoking the senses and allowing individuals to experience the health benefits of interacting with nature1. Hospitality is the focus due to the popularity of the spaces2, the current lack of biophilic design3, the rise in sustainably conscious venues4 and the lifting of covid restrictions creating an opportunity to reattract customers in innovative and dynamic ways.

Question

Through the journey of my research, my question has evolved to become: 

How can connections to nature be improved through visiting hospitality businesses that serve food and drink in cities?

Research Methodology 

To explore the aims of my project I have deployed a plethora of research methods. Including, consulting books, academic texts, meeting with experts and stakeholders; visiting hospitality and natural spaces for inspiration and observing applications of nature. The knowledge gathered from this research has been utilised to develop the most suitable and impactful interventions to generate change amongst my stakeholders.

Research

The foundation of my project has been derived from academic texts and books. Reading ‘Design a Healthy Home’5 provided the details of how to apply biophilic concepts into physical spaces. Exploring the academic iterations of scales, such as the Inclusion of Nature in Self Scale6 to measure connections to nature deciphered the appropriate format to measure changes in connection with my Herb Event. The springboard for my most recent creative ideas regarding future iterations of my interventions has been reading ‘Rewild Yourself’7. The book offered alternative perspectives on barriers to nature alongside the vastness of nature, which led to considering unique areas of and ways to access nature in future interventions. Additional knowledge has been obtained from visits to different hospitality venues to assess their uses of nature, as demonstrated on the Instagram page @nature.i.n.8. Inspiration and market awareness were gained from discovering sustainability campaigns such as ‘Good Nature’ at Selfridges9.

Furthermore, I have consulted with biophilic experts including Kristina Libby10 and Hedi Leneartz11 to discuss directions for my work, its impacts, outcomes, and iterations. I have spoken with hospitality business12 and customers13 to establish their different desires towards incorporating nature. Valuable feedback in these meetings were the catalyst for developing the online sharing group, to gather greater data of this type. 

My first panel discussion14 was ultimately utilised for research, rather than an intervention, because there was no live audience as intended. Biophilic and biomimetic experts discussed the most effective and innovative applications of nature that could be introduced into hospitality spaces. Discussion provided insightful ideas regarding how to target the senses and technobiophilia. Such conversations contributed to developing the Herb Event, playing off the herb’s scents, textures, and tastes.

A key discovery in my research process has been Technobiophilia. Research led to the work of Sue Thomas, a pioneer in the field whose work I have analysed15, which directed questioning of how technology and nature can be fused together to develop unique methods for connecting to nature. Subsequently, a technobiophilic event is set to occur around 22nd September at Chelsea College of Arts once the canteen space has reopened16.

Interventions

Chelsea College of Arts – Herb Event 20th – 21st July I have developed a contact in the head of catering at Chelsea College of Arts, which has provided the opportunity to hold interventions in their hospitality spaces17. The event involved an array of herbs being presented for customers to come and pick to go with their food or to take home with them18. Upon arrival, I asked customers to complete a series of 4 questions based upon the measure of Inclusion of Nature in Self to rate their connection to nature17. Before participants left, I re-asked the questions to assess if there had been any change in their connection to nature. I provided customers with herb cuttings of their choice to take home and a card explaining different ways to utilise the herbs, alongside a QR code to an online survey form for added feedback.

Results determined that there was a slight increase in connection to nature from this event of 2.5%19 among the 40 participants, but this could be increased if participants had longer to engage with the herbs. A stunning 85% of participants stated that they would actively visit a hospitality venue if it was offering a natural event or experience, suggesting a large market for this work. Throughout the event, many customers stated they felt disconnected from nature living in London, which led to defining cities in my question as an area where many people lack but are ready to receive nature20.

Online Sharing Group

I have developed a sharing group via Facebook where customers of hospitality spaces post applications of nature that they like, or dislike accompanied by short comments as to why they hold this opinion21. Change was to be created utilising the data to develop to applications of nature that are attractive to customers. Results from the group have been limited in user posts, but the group has gained members and likes22. It appeared there was an audience for this idea, but the platform was wrong to engage people. The Nature.In Instagram page has instead been utilised to promote hospitality spaces showcasing nature, to encourage customers to visit such spaces and connect with nature in this way. This page is also helping to form a conversation and community in the comments section, through the page’s growing following which is currently at over 70 followers22.

2nd Panel Discussion – 26th August via Stream Yard

My second panel included 4 biophilic experts and a live audience to learn how they can apply nature in spaces and ask questions23. The panel aimed to establish pioneering adaptations of the interventions I have been conducting. Discussion flowed through a series of question prompts encouraging analysis of each intervention and ideas for future events24. Measuring connection via blood pressure changes, utilising unusual spaces for events, exploring alternative media options for sharing groups and technobiophilia were readily discussed25.

Audience

My stakeholders are split into three key groups: biophilic experts, hospitality professionals and hospitality customers. My interventions have been derived to ensure all stakeholder groups are part of the research. 

InterventionStakeholders Targeted
1st Panel DiscussionExperts in biophilic and biomimetic design 
Herb EventHospitality business and customers
Online Sharing GroupHospitality business and customers
2nd Panel DiscussionExperts in biophilic and biomimetic design
Hospitality business and customers invited as an audience to online live stream 

Conclusion 

I feel my communication with stakeholders in analysing what aspects of natural experiences are ground-breaking and beneficial to all parties has led to the success my project has seen so far. This is something I look to continue and grow my network into Unit 3. Alternatively, a weakness in my process was around the start of July when I spent a long time in May–July securing a hospitality site to test my natural concepts in.  Perseverance here led to a key breakthrough in securing the opportunity to run interventions at Chelsea College of Arts and later a meeting with The Marylebone hotel. However, in reflection placing so much emphasis on the importance of securing a testing venue was a slight oversight in my research process. 

Looking forward, I feel to push this project further I need to move past my current standing further into the unknown. I believe this new angle may lie around technobiophilia26. I look forward to meeting with Sue Thomas and Hedi Leneartz over the coming week to explore this avenue further and continue to develop original iterations of my interventions building upon the most effective aspects so far. 

Footnotes

  1. Mind (2018) “Nature and Mental Health” Mind [Online] https://www.mind.org.uk/media-a/2931/nature-and-mental-health-2018.pdf Accessed 06/07/21
  2. Statista (2021) “Number of People Visiting Restaurants in Great Britain From 2018-2021” Statista [Online]https://www.statista.com/statistics/586195/restaurant-usage-in-the-uk-frequency/ Accessed 14/08/21
  3. Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/05/07/defining-what-sector-of-hospitality-to-focus-upon/
  4. Visit Britain (2021) “Reimagine your future events: UK venues making sustainable impact” Visit Britain [Online]https://www.visitbritain.com/gb/en/business/blog/reimagine-your-future-events-uk-venues-making-sustainable-impact Accessed 16/07/21
  5. Heath, O. (2021) Design a Healthy Home, Penguin Random House, London.

Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/05/22/arranging-panel-discussion-and-reading-design-a-healthy-home/

  1. Kleespies, M.W., Braun, T., Dierkes, P.W. and Wenzel, V., 2021. “Measuring connection to nature—a illustrated extension of the inclusion of nature in self scale.” Sustainability, 13(4), p.1761.

Martin, C. and Czellar, S. (2016) “The extended inclusion of nature in self scale.” Journal of Environmental Psychology, 47, pp.181-194.

Schultz, P.W., (2002). “Inclusion with nature: The psychology of human-nature relations.” In Psychology of sustainable development (pp. 61-78). Springer, Boston, MA.

Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/19/preparing-for-herb-event-intervention-at-chelsea-collage-of-arts/

  1. Barnes, S. (2018) Rewild Yourself, Simon and Schuster, London.

Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/08/21/reading-rewild-yourself-to-help-formulate-a-new-stream-of-ideas/

  1. https://www.instagram.com/nature.i.n/
  2.  Selfridges (2021) “Good Nature Moodboard” Selfridges [Online] https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/features/moodboard/ Accessed 06/08/21 

Blog –  https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/08/06/selfridges-good-nature-campaign/

  1. Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/08/26/meeting-with-kristina-libby-discussing-technobiophilia/
  2. Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/08/20/updates-on-future-interventions-and-stakeholder-meetings/
  3. Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/18/chelsea-collage-of-arts-meeting/

Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/23/meeting-with-executive-chef-at-the-marylebone-hotel/

  1. Blog– https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/23/outcomes-of-herb-event-intervention-at-chelsea-collage-of-arts-cafe-courtyard/
  2. Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/05/22/arranging-panel-discussion-and-reading-design-a-healthy-home/

Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/06/04/panel-discussion-testing-intervention-1/

  1. Thomas, S., (2013) Technobiophilia: Nature and cyberspace. A&C Black.

Thomas, S. (2020) “Technobiophilic Design Challenges for Developers” https://suethomasnet.wordpress.com/whatistechnobiophilia/designchallenges/

Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/06/16/technobiophilia/

  1. Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/18/intervention-outline-future-independent-study-plan/
  2. Blog- https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/18/chelsea-collage-of-arts-meeting/
  3. Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/19/preparing-for-herb-event-intervention-at-chelsea-collage-of-arts/
  4. Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/24/analysis-of-results-from-chelsea-herb-event/
  5. Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/23/outcomes-of-herb-event-intervention-at-chelsea-collage-of-arts-cafe-courtyard/
  6. Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/30/developing-online-sharing-group/
  7. Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/08/26/update-and-iteration-of-online-sharing-group/
  8. Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/08/11/arranging-next-panel-discussion/
  9. Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/08/20/finalised-2nd-panel-discussion/
  10. Blog – https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/08/27/outcomes-of-2nd-panel-discussion/
  11. Blog- https://nicoleparkes.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/08/27/future-ideas-invertention-iterations/
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Attending Fika with Friends Conference Talk

Today I attended Vestre’s Fika with Friends conference talk that discussed the latest in UN development goals, biophilic design and biophilic urbanism with leading experts in the industry. It was a very insightful talk raising a lot of key points. The main parts I took from the discussion can be found below.

Vestre’s Fika with Friends

  • Biophilic approach to management of urban areas
  • How green spaces or cities can be made more biophilic – the differences between urban and green in their attributes, it isnt just about green infrastructure its on repeated meaningful events and engagement
    • (in my work) For events to create repeat customers to keep coming back and grow their connection in spaces
  • The work of Stephen Kellert
    • Core principles of biophilia – the depth and principles biophilia has
  • Biophilic urbanisim
    • Retain biophilic deisgn principles, with continuity and connectivity and play to local strengths
    • Connectivty shown in singapore park connector network – connecting parks across the city so you don’t have to walk on the roads
    • Bringing nature into the cities and providing peolle the opportunity to interact with nature will really devlop connections to nature
    • Create richness in biophilic deisgns – not with repeating items
    • Habitat corridors
    • Viewing planning cities as creating habitats
    • Meeting Target 15.9 in sustainability goals
  • Time to unite all of this work together into a form of policy – lots of very interesting ideas and work going on around biophilic design and biophilic urbanism but there needs a clearly defined target together?
  • Planted event in Septemebr (already got a tikcet for attendence) all sustainabiliy tested brands
    • Field to lawn – natural living space – natural marquee company
    • Benchmark brand – wood
    • connect likeminded brand and businesses to enable thought and discussion around biophilia
    • botanical market – more traditional market space – products about beauty and nature
  • Viewing our relationship with nature are trainign a muscle – if you go to the gym once there is little impact, you have to keep going and working on it within truly complex natural environments.
  • Becorp certification

If you care for nature on a small scale, you are much more likely to care for it on a broader and bigger scale. The nurturing of something leads to greater connection and community.

Reflection

After hearing the speakers today I am even more excited to visit the planted event in September, as two of the speakers are directly involved in the company Planted which is running the event. I am also going to reach out to Sam and Becks from the panel with the work I am doing to see if there would be an opportunity for collaboration with them in the future. I feel our goals are very strongly allied, however, they do have a broader focus for large scale change through the venture which could offer a really interesting aspect to my more focus smaller scale work as part of my master’s work.

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Outcomes of 2nd Panel Discussion

The panellists provided great insights into how they would expand upon and alter the methodologies I have so far employed in my interventions. This was very interesting to witness alternative points of view, many of which were very insightful and can be adapted in looking to future iterations of my events. However, some feedback was possibly less suitable for the niches of my project, with some such as designing full rooms, all be it small rooms, possibly out of the scope for what can be achieved under the timescale of the masters.

Some panellists also felt stronger towards the concept of nature and technology being combined than others. Some panellists felt that nature is the inspiration for parts of technology (not wrong look at ‘I’m saving this to the cloud’ in the tech terminology). Also views that if you are to utilise technology in this way that it may need to be hidden or disguised from the consumer, were raised. However, I felt in parts that this mindset might close you off from future possibilities of how tech can aid the future of human’s relationships and differing experiences of nature. Almost adding another link to the chain with it starting:

nature inspiring tech – tech mimicking aspects of nature – nature and tech together to create new ways to experience nature

Only a couple of panellists felt they were positioned more of the viewpoint towards nature needing to be recognised as the superior as it were, and feeling that to create natural connections perhaps technology needs to take a back seat. However, even this group were not 100% against the idea. But, the other panellists did provide positive ideas and contributions around how technology can be utilised in this way, which is something I definitely want to explore further. Especially after seeing the ideas and support this way of thinking can have amongst experts.

The key interesting points discussed are as follows:

  • Utilising special natural papers for items such a menus
    • eg: flower paper or paper made from herbs
    • these papers could also have their natural scent and will have differing textures, providing greater connections to nature in very small and simple ways
  • Nature inspired hospital rooms
    • They utilise heart rate monitoring to assess impact of biophilic space – proved 60% reduction in stress and anxiety
    • Spent 15/30 mins in the room
    • Also utilsie measuring blood pressure
  • Future events
    • Focus on ensuirng there is a loop or very clear before and after measure Could assess which sense has been stimulated the most?
    • Reduce randomness – exploit opportunity as student to conduct academic mini experiment to create strong imperical eveidence to presnet to hospitality businesess
    • More functionalty – eg: maybe blood pressure measuring
  • Looking at different spaces within hospiality venues
    • Create a destress room? – maybe out the scope of the masters
    • Utilsiing unusual spaces – storage closet bar event in New York – repurposing of the space once the venue has cosed for its usual businesses
    • Storage spaces or unutilsied rooms
  • Utilsing platforms to share the information around biophilia
    • Instead of facebook now the focus is on instagram but can push it further
    • Look also at pintrest – position with biophilia and hospitality but also look at other industires that you can tie into it eg: florists and floral installs in hospitality spaces
    • Look at LinkedIn – creating a company page, helps to reach professionals in the industries and great for sharing roles
    • Look at Clubhouse – stream audio and people listen to it
    • Look at what platforms large assocaitions are utilsing to share their messages eg: international facility management
  • Idea of utilsie what spaces alreayd have and seeing what can be done with that to link in biophilia
  • Idea – if something on the menu is unknown and you are ordering through QR code, why can’t the items be hyperlinked to explain extra info of what it is and where it is from – linking to sustainability
  • Idea – getting rewarded for choosing to not take disposabel cutlery when ordering takeout eg: flower added to their virtual projection wall or phsyical natural artwork piece. Helps to build relationship with customers as they can come back and see their imapct and contribution to the space
    • Or, utilise the small money saved from cutlery to plant a seed
    • Could also reward for other sustainable decsions eg: ordering veggie or vegan? – have to be careful that the resturnat would want this however as they may be making more money off meat dishes or the meat being more locally sourced, and so they may want to encourage customers to order meat instead.
  • Ideas in current spaces:
    • Living light – concept that utilises photosynthesis to create light – when you touch the leaves lights go on
    • Digital vegetables – art glass house in Tokyo, similar principle to living light – touch and differnet coloured lights and sounds fill the greenhouse
    • Hotel group – kids spaces to make kids connect with nature – kids plant seeds and with a QR code they can watch that seed grow even when they are no longer staying at the hotel – could apply to butterfiles as they could grow and be able in a 7 day stay in the hotel
      • Emotional attachment and caring for sometging gives a greater sense of connection
  • Idea – full ecosystem spaces – similar to the book/ film DUNE
  • Idea – hopsitality spaces with historical significance – utilise tech to provide info on this/ its environment or different garden sections etc.
  • Idea – restaurants with local supplies and herb gardens – organise events to see how they grow the herbs and how the utilsie local producers
  • Block chain – this tech can allow us to track where food is from – play on this to demonstrate sustainability
  • Consider the plate that the food is on – what is it made of? – plates made of egg shells or bamboo straws etc – just small actions

Recording:

Unfortunately, there were a few technical problems in saving the video of the panel recording to the Nature.In YouTube channel. However, I did manage to record the audio of the majority of the conversation (minus the first 5 minutes) which I have uploaded to the YouTube channel with a still image of the panellists so that the conversation can be referred back to at a later stage.

The prompt slides utilised in the discussion can be viewed below:

Reflection

The panel was incredibly useful to gain feedback from a key group of stakeholders. Their feedback was honest and insightful into the positives to take from my work and perhaps the shortfalls of parts of my interventions so far and how to push them further now. The panellists also provided information on projects they have currently been working on such as kids rooms in hotels offering plants to plant and they can watch it grown over their stay and even come back to see it in the future. I feel that the audience members enjoyed these insights into other ways nature is being utilised in the hospitality industry. However, unfortunately, the live audience didn’t ask any questions.

A vital angle that was discussed was around the utilisation of different online platforms to educate around biophilia, especially the power of LinkedIn, Pinterest and clubhouse. Subsequently, I will look to utilise these platforms in the future to create real change and reach a lot of people with my work.

The key point brought up to make my research process more robust was that I should consider developing a control experiment where I don’t rely on the chance of passersby and their arent so many random variables in my events. Although, for the purpose of my Herb Event, I did wish to utilise passersby as I wanted it to replicate normal customers coming into a hospitality space who had no prior knowledge of me or my work so that I could gather fair and reliable data on whether there is an audience for such events in the wider public. However, now I have conducted that event and gained that assurance in my data, I think it could be interesting to try and develop a form of controlled intervention whereby a fully imperial measuring tool is employed such as measuring blood pressure, as was suggested in the panel. This could then provide undeniable hard data to present to other hospitality businesses that adding these types of natural events and experiences into their spaces positively impacts their customers and that people would be keen to come to their space if they offered it. Something like this could be set up in a smaller context of perhaps a small pop up bar in a space that might have otherwise been closed eg: a cafe that only sells lunch and gathering a sample of 10 or more people to take part and visit the event. Their blood pressure would be taken upon arrival and as they left to measure the change.

At present these are all just in the ideas phase but I feel there are strong ways that these ideas can be applied to hospitality settings, as now that I have a site such as Chelsea where I can get experimenting, I feel there is a very interesting future ahead for this project.