My thesis concept is to create a website as well as some sort of physical, tangible content (likely booklets/pamphlets plus something else to catch attention) in order to introduce people to the concept of wild food and why it’s a good idea to add foraged ingredients to your diet. This assignment will be a challenge technically as well as with having to sell people on the idea of foraging; to make them inspired to try it too.
What inspired your idea?
My way of life over the last three years, the people I surround myself with, science, the fact I already think about plants most of the time
Why are you personally inspired by this idea?
It encompasses my passion of medicinal herbs and wild food. I know that it’s something I’ll be willing to put work into everyday (although I definitely foresee frustrations with learning React to use for the website)
In what way does your project represent your personal values and interests?
While I certainly don’t eat foraged food with every meal and not even every day, my heart is there but it’s tough cooking all meals as a college student; I intend to someday be at that point. I intend on getting people to understand that introducing any wild food into your diet, even once a week or less, helps your body (and why, of course). You’re giving yourself what we were evolved to have: genetically diverse food full of minerals.
In what ways does it reflect your future aspirations? Professionally? Creatively?
My goal is to do tech/design work with some sort of natural business. Will I make a lot of money doing this? Likely not. Will I be happy? Very likely. I don’t intend on this happening straight out of school but I think my project will display my tech/design skills, writing ability, and determination to any tech/design company.
Why should anyone else be interested in your project?
It seems like either people are really into it or they aren’t. I need to maintain the attention of the interested and capture the attention of skeptics, all of which is pertinent when first presenting the project.
How is your idea useful and/or interesting to other people?
People should be interested in my project because it has the potential to change their lives both physically regarding their body and spiritually regarding their connection to the earth (okay, might leave out or at least reword that last part because I’m starting to sound a lil too ~out there~)
Who is your target audience and how does your project address their specific needs or interests?
The presentation itself will definitely be targeted to an audience who’s never heard of or considered foraging/herbalism while the website will be more for people who are interested and want to learn more as well as intermediate-advanced foragers who’d like to fill in some cracks. The benefits of foraging includes health benefits, no need to spend money, and a new hobby that takes you outdoors, all of which are things college students can especially benefit from. The biggest concern? If you’re not a decent cook or have access to a kitchen, foraging will be hard because it requires preparation.
Context
How does your project extend existing knowledge rather than duplicate it?
Although my project won’t be presenting any groundbreaking science, it’ll certainly be the first presentation about foraging targeted to beginners while also being useful for advanced foragers. While there are plenty of informational foraging websites (more like blogs), as far as I can find there have been no presentations including a physical setup and a rounded explanation of foraging rather than just “here is info” — it’s persuasive.
How is your idea an improvement over existing work in the area? How does it break new ground (technically, stylistically)?
I wouldn’t exactly consider my project as breaking new ground in general, but it certainly does in mainstream Western society and the TCNJ community. It’ll give beginners the tools (info) needed to start foraging. There will be a list of plants to not touch as well as a list of plants (with identification info including visuals), all of which will be presented as either a pamphlet or booklet (I’ll have a bunch for people to take). I’ll be sure to include a lot of warnings and precaution info and will make it explicit that if you don’t feel absolutely confident in identification, don’t risk it. Foraging is awesome but has potential to be dangerous if you’re careless.
Technical Strategy
What software and hardware do you think you’ll need to complete the project?
I’ll need to know how to use React and Javascript and will likely need the laser cutter and/or CNC machine for physical setup (yet to be decided). It’s also likely I’ll need the vinyl cutter/printer for the informational pamphlets.
What specific skills, experience, and relevant knowledge do you bring to this project already?
I already know how to use equipment in the Maker’s Space and I have rudimentary website building knowledge. I know a whole lot about plants.
What additional skills and knowledge will you need to acquire in order to execute the project?
Working with React and JS to make an interactive and sleek website will challenge and help me work towards my goal as a web/print designer. I’ve been scared to break the coding ice but this project will force me to. While I have a decent amount of compiled herb knowledge on my own, I’ll definitely have to collect more and present it in a uniform fashion.
Aesthetic Strategy
What factors will determine your project’s look and feel?
Level of interactivity, user intuitiveness, understandability, sleekness, and being stylish but not necessarily trendy (like how all websites look the same at this point) while still showing that I’m capable of doing the trendy stuff. It’ll be just as easy to use on mobile as it will be on a browser which will determine what framework I use (possibly Bootstrap, there’s likely more recent frameworks out there)