Home Harvest

Brief

This project brief tasks students with selecting a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and identifying a related design challenge within a specific community. Students are required to conduct thorough primary and secondary research, analyse the findings to develop strategic insights, and create a design solution that addresses the challenge. The process involves co-designing with community members to refine the solution and culminates in a professional presentation of the final design. The project emphasizes deep engagement with the chosen community, ethical research practices, and effective communication of the strategic and creative process.

Rational

The “Home Harvest” project brief challenged me to address food insecurity in the Cape Flats by empowering vulnerable communities through sustainable solutions. I chose to focus on female-headed households, who are disproportionately affected by economic instability and limited access to nutritious food. In response, I developed a comprehensive campaign centered around vertical gardening workshops, where women could learn to build gardens using recycled materials.

The campaign includes Instagram posts, stories, posters, flyers, instructional leaflets, and seed packets, each carefully crafted to raise awareness, provide resources, and drive engagement. Digital deliverables like social media content raise awareness, while physical materials like leaflets and seed packets provide tangible resources for starting gardens. The workshop, held at Philippi Village Community Center—a central and accessible hub—serves as a focal point for hands-on training, resource distribution, and community building, ensuring long-term sustainability and self-sufficiency. By combining digital engagement with practical workshops and accessible resources, my approach offers a holistic and impactful solution to food insecurity, fostering community resilience and empowerment.