Summer 2025
Rainier Valley Food Bank: Envisioning New Client Services
Instructor: Andrew Davidson, Associate Teaching Professor Emeritus
In this DRG, we will explore possible new services that the Rainier Valley Food Bank (RVFB) could offer its clients.
BACKGROUND
According to their website, RVFB (rvfb.org) “is the primary emergency food resource for Seattle’s most racially, ethnically, and economically diverse neighborhood and home to many people of color, immigrants, and refugees who regularly face systemic obstacles to living wage employment, affordable housing, and food security. It is home to a wide disparity of living standards where multi-million-dollar homes are down the street from Section Eight housing.
RVFB has bold ambitions to create a better future with food justice and equity at the center. Together we’re creating South Seattle's community food hub, redefining the role food bank’s play in our community as a driver of change, implementing a holistic approach to building secure, healthy, and thriving communities through equitable access to nourishing, culturally celebratory food.”
RVFB is launching a brand new facility on their site in Rainier Beach (Google Maps) this summer, renovating and expanding their former building. This renovation, in addition to improving the distribution of food to clients, will also allow them to grow and integrate the range of services they provide.
In this DRG, students will work with RVFB staff, clients, and stakeholders to envision possible new services they could offer in this dynamic facility.
DETAILS
Students will work in small teams to engage in user research, ideation, design, and prototyping/presenting concepts for new client services and how they could take advantage of the affordances in the new facility.
There are a wide range of possibilities for these services; RVFB is interested in understanding from user research what areas might be fruitful and valuable to their clients.
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 full summer quarter for approximately 2 hours, with meeting time TBD. Participants will earn 2 credits for the DRG. Outside of the designated DRG meeting, students will be expected to engage in fieldwork 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, June 6, at 11:59 pm. Applicants will be notified of acceptance decisions by Friday, June 13.