School of Visual Arts + Harvest Graduate Thesis
Harvesting ambient energy
While attending the School of Visual Arts - Products of Design MFA program, I focused my thesis on exploring ambient energy harvesting, or the process of obtaining usable energy from natural or human-made sources that surround us in the everyday environment. Harvest is a conceptual product, service and system representing the greater component of my thesis entitled “Hacking the Orchestra of Life: A Movement for Capturing Ambient Energy.” This construct was used for the body of work to realize meaningful change through reframing people’s perception of energy use and production. More of my research, process and thinking can be found on my thesis blog.
Project: Harvest Graduate Thesis
Roles: Research, UX, Interaction Design, ID
Year: 2013-2014
DESIGN SYSTEM
Harvest takes human movement and turns it into quantifiable energy, a little bit at a time. Through footwear, apparel and bicycle accessories, energy is stored to a micro rechargeable lithium-ion battery or a “Harvest Pod.”
The user can check his or her energy metrics through the Harvest app. Harvest supplies the energy harvesting technology and partners with footwear, apparel and bicycle companies such as Nike, Lululemon and Trek. The user can “upload” their energy by visiting “Harvest Hotspots,” such as Nike and Lululemon stores as well as Whole Foods and Starbucks.
The Hotspots utilize the existing infrastructure of the Square payment kiosk system and the harvested energy is transferred and stored to a green energy bank. This energy is used locally to help power the store, and once enough energy is accumulated, a Renewable Energy Certificate is created. The certificate is then sold on the energy market and the proceeds are donated to a set of philanthropic and charity organizations, such as The American Red Cross and 1% for the Planet.
A campaign featuring Nike-sponsored athletes reframes the perception of energy, proposing the question “What would you do with the energy of LeBron James?” Put it on a shelf as a collectible, power your iPhone or donate it to a school to keep their lights on?
QUANTIFYING ENERGY
I found that electromagnetic was the most practical method for estimating energy captured per step. By attaching components of a shake flashlight to running shoes, I was able to produce about 0.05 Joule per step. To put that in context, I calculated I'd have to walk almost 200 miles to charge my iPhone and a lengthy 3,100 miles to fully charge my laptop battery.
Although the amount of harvestable energy with today’s technology is at micro levels, little bits add up to a lot. Taking the concept of Harvest and applying it to other facets of movement, anything that moves can be a source for energy. There is an immediate need for new green energy. It is possible to realize meaningful change through reframing our perception of energy use and production.
ADDITIONAL WORK
Many additional components of this work are complied into a thesis book, including research, interviews, system thinking, concepts and sketches. More of my research, process and thinking can be found on my thesis blog.
