A dream collaboration

Canada Blooms Foodprints exhibit sets stage for future local-global projects.
                — by Sheila Waite-Chuah, OCAD Sustainability Office Coordinator

A unique partnership
The project described as “a dream collaboration” by Anna Miller, former Director of Programs for the Canadian Physicians for Aid & Relief (CPAR), began with a call to OCAD’s Sustainability Office in April 2009. Included in the mandate of the Sustainability Office is the identification of opportunities for student involvement in community activities that support “people, planet and prosperity.” The office had only recently been launched and CPAR was the first community organization to knock on its door.

Miller hoped to engage OCAD students as a means of showcasing CPAR’s work with farming communities in Africa. Specifically, she invited OCAD students to help develop an installation that drew inspiration from African farmers’ design of tree nurseries and gardens, which create income sources, soil/water conservation measures and nutritious food for the farmers’ families. The installation would be “launched” at Canada Blooms in late March 2010. The largest flower and garden festival in Canada, Canada Blooms has showcased award-winning landscape design projects since 1997. With the growing interest, in Canada, in locally sourced and organic food, there was an opportunity to present “edible gardens” as an integral component to building healthy communities in both the African and Canadian contexts.

Priscilla Diaz/MAAD; Sam Nichols/OCAD Alumni; Kevin O'Neill, Program Coordinator CPAR. Founded in 1984, CPAR is staffed by a team of specialists working with farmers to build healthy communities in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi and Uganda. “Putting Farmers First” is a CPAR program that supports long-term food security for farming families in vulnerable African communities. It emphasizes the belief that small-scale farming is an effective means of sustaining livelihoods in the face of global challenges such as climate change. “Food security,” according to the World Food Summit, occurs “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.”

Anna Miller (Program Director CPAR) with SEED Finalist nomination. Following the initial meeting with CPAR, I approached members of Frogpond, an interdisciplinary, extra-curricular forum that evolved out of OCAD’s Think Tank program. Led by Environmental Design Chair Bruce Hinds, and Graphic Design Chair Keith Rushton, Frogpond brings together students, alumni and faculty on real-life projects that respond to the theme “design for humanity.” Together, we agreed that the CPAR project was a great opportunity, as it would invite students to consider sustainable design within the broad framework of sustainable development.

The design challenge
A major concern of CPAR specialists was that the Foodprints exhibit engage its audience through positive messaging. “Foodprints,” explained Miller, “had to be true to the integrity of the people and communities of Africa.” In addressing CPAR’s concern, however, the team faced a design challenge. How would the exhibit reflect both the struggles and successes of African farmers?

For the 3D team — students from OCAD’s Environmental Design, Industrial Design and Material Art & Design departments — it was about the materials. They would have to be low-impact (that is, salvaged, non-toxic and recyclable). Only low-impact materials would suitably reflect the daily realities faced by communities in East Africa, where inconsistencies in the availability of fresh water and nutritious food threatens the survival of many, and where the creative use of precious resources is critical to enhancing community livelihoods.

But as the team discovered, sourcing the green supply chain presents its own challenges. For example, where would the team go to get good, green stuff? Team members unearthed two reliable local sources — a dumpster at a renovation site, and a factory waste-stream. The former yielded timbre needed for a table and seating; the latter provided the cardboard tubing which was re-used as supports and garden edging. All furniture was designed for ease of disassembly and recovery at end-of-life.

The Graphic Design team built the messaging of the exhibit around CPAR’s Putting Farmers First program. Team members also insisted on a green venue, and were pleased to find a less toxic solution than the usual suspect — PVC. The posters they ultimately created were polymer-based HDPE, which is fully recyclable. Exhibit walls were covered with burlap from natural jute fibres, while African textiles and straw baskets added a colourful backdrop to the display.

The journey


Anna Miller, Vickie Chan/ED; Cassandra Alvez/ED; Stephanie Penev/GD. More than 90,000 people attended Canada Blooms 2010. Many of the visitors to the Foodprints exhibit said they enjoyed its educational theme, and many shared personal stories about their involvement in community gardening projects. Foodprints captured the attention of judges at the show as well, earning an Outstanding Outdoor Entertainment Area award, and placing as a finalist for the Evergreen SEED Award (Society, Environment, Education, Design). Foodprints was also invited to participate in Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

Today, CPAR and OCAD are looking forward to further collaboration on local-global projects related to topics concerning sustainability and design solution intersections.