Winter 2026
Rainier Valley Food Bank: Analyzing the Shopping Experience
Instructor: Andrew Davidson, Associate Teaching Professor Emeritus
OVERVIEW
In this DRG, we will explore the client shopping experience at a local food bank, using user research and prototyping techniques to make recommendations for how that experience could be optimized.
BACKGROUND
The Rainier Valley Food Bank, RVFB (rvfb.org), “is the primary emergency food resource for Seattle’s most racially, ethnically, and economically diverse neighborhood.” RVFB has just recently opened a brand new facility on their site in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of South Seattle. In this new facility, they provide a supermarket-like shopping experience for their clients.
RVFB would like to work with HCDE students to analyze the efficacy of the shopping experience, and learn how they might improve their services to clients.
DETAILS
Students will work RVFB staff to identify areas for change, suggest new designs or processes, and prototype their solutions. They will work in small teams to engage in user research, ideation, design, and prototyping/presenting solution concepts. Students will have access to the RVFB facility, and to various staff members to inform and guide their research.
After engaging in the research and design process, teams will develop prototypes or other effective methods of communicating their concepts, and will present these concepts to stakeholders at the end of the quarter.
The DRG will meet once per week during the quarter, on Fridays from 4:30 — 6:00 pm. Participants will earn 2 credits for the DRG. Outside of the designated DRG meeting, students will be expected to engage in fieldwork (likely a few Fridays around mid-day) and other team activities.
HOW TO APPLY
We are looking for dedicated and enthusiastic students at all levels (Bachelor to PhD) to work on this project. We are especially interested in having students who have a passion for designing for community-based systems.
Applicants should be familiar with basic human-centered design processes, including user-centered design research, ideation, and prototyping. At a minimum, they must have taken HCDE 302/303 or HCDE 518, or have equivalent experience.
To apply for this DRG, please send a short email to professor Andrew Davidson (adavid7@uw.edu) including your CV and portfolio link (if available), and explain why you are interested in this project and how you see yourself contributing to its success.
The deadline for receiving your application is Friday, December 5, at 11:59 pm. Applicants will be notified of acceptance decisions by Friday, December 12.