Shumka x Circular Food Innovation Lab

The Circular Food Innovation Lab (CFIL) is a project co-led by the City of Vancouver, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Vancouver Economic Commission and Vancouver-based businesses and organizations in the food system.

Working within the setting of a public sector innovation lab, the project uses systemic design, action research and other design processes to work towards the transformation of Vancouver’s food system. We experiment with ways to intervene on systems, structures and behaviours to prevent and reduce food waste, and create enabling conditions for circularity in and between food businesses and organizations.

The design team contributes co-creative research in service design, interaction design, graphic design, UX, systemic design, and action research. CFIL is funded by the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA)’s Game Changer Initiative and MITACS Accelerate. The Game Changer grants are intended to mobilize the development, adoption and implementation of game-changing climate policies in cities around the world. The learnings generated through CFIL will be applicable and adaptable for use in other cities worldwide.

Program Objectives

Co–developed design process, tools and techniques: Design team will draw on the design process, action research and systems thinking for problem framing, ideation, prioritization, prototyping and iteration, and evaluation for continuous learning

In–field learning, co–design, and rapid prototyping: Designers meet with food sector clients onsite and virtually to observe and understand challenges and engage in rapid prototyping of potential interventions.

Co–led generative and evaluative gatherings: A series of gatherings are planned, where designers, Vancouver Economic Commission and City of Vancouver staff, and food sector clients will meet to identify challenges, share prototype concepts and reflect on the process.

About the Circular Food Innovation Lab 

The Circular Food Innovation Lab team includes Erin Nichols, Senior Manager – Zero Waste, City of Vancouver; Lily Raphael, Design + Experimentation Lead (CFIL), Solutions Lab, City of Vancouver;  Lindsay Cole, Solutions Lab Manager, City of Vancouver;  Laura Kozak (Faculty), Marcia Higuchi, Hunter Milroy, Bianca Kodato, Yejin Eun, Sheyda Rashidi, Garima Sood , Soumya, Design Team Shumka Centre, Emily Carr; and Meg O’Shea, Senior Manager – Economic Transformation, Christa Clay, Economic Transformation Manager, and Mariya Chugay, Economic Transformation Coordinator, Vancouver Economic Commission.