Client: Discovery Elementary
Role: Service designer, team lead, UX researcher
Tools: FigJam, Excel, Google Suite
Timeline: 4 weeks
Redesign the lunch schedule at Discovery Elementary to address inefficiencies, improve behavior management, and create a more organized and enjoyable lunch experience for all stakeholders involved.
More efficient lunch periods, reduced food waste, and a calmer, structured lunch period for students and staff.
“Lunch is the worst part of my day. It makes me not want to come to school.”
– Jaime, 4th grade teacher
Due to Covid-19 health and safety regulations, students at Discovery Elementary were required to eat at two outdoor locations far from the cafeteria, which caused frustration and dissatisfaction for all stakeholders, including administration, teachers, cafeteria and custodial staff, lunch attendants, and students. Despite not having any formal responsibility for lunchtime logistics, as someone who supported multiple roles, I felt compelled to take action to address the issue.
The problem was compounded by inadequate transition time, inadequate student meal times, and staff spending too much time addressing behavior problems during lunch, which detracted from other duties. There were several constraints that needed to be considered when developing a solution to this problem. including: strict budget, space, and time limitations, and the need to adhere to state and federal regulations regarding health and food safety.
Space: There were the only two outdoor spaces that were approved to accommodate large groups of students at lunch time. These locations could not be changed.
Time constraints: Public schools are required to provide a certain number of uninterrupted instructional minutes per subject area per day, so each grade level could not have longer than a 35-minute lunch block. The amount of time for each lunch block could not change. In addition, all lunches had to take place between a strict 2-hour window timeframe during the school day.
Strict budget: There were no funds allocated to this project, so I had to devise a zero-cost solution.
State and federal regulations regarding health and food safety: Regulations regarding food temperature and distribution, sanitation, and CDC’s Covid-19 guidelines caused many limitations.
Each day, I gained firsthand insight as I took on the role of a different stakeholder. I donned an apron and helped the cafeteria staff prepare lunches while observing how students interacted with the lunch line; I teamed up with the administration and lunch staff to tackle behavior management during lunchtime; and I even had the opportunity to take on the role of a classroom teacher and student. By doing so, I wanted to reveal issues that may not have been apparent from my own perspective.
It was crucial to develop a deeper sense of empathy and understanding for each stakeholder's unique needs and motivations. I wanted to create a lunch plan that would function well and provide genuine value to everyone involved.
My strength in systems thinking was instrumental in solving the lunchtime problem. I recognized that the issue was not limited to one group but rather affected everyone involved in the lunchtime process. By taking a holistic view, I was able to identify the root causes of the problem and develop a comprehensive, three-pronged approach that addressed the needs of all stakeholders:
Overhaul the current school schedule by staggering lunches, building in transition time, and ensuring consistency through a rotating schedule.
Define responsibilities and set clear expectations for staff members.
Develop a training program for lunch staff to better manage students.
I considered each stakeholder’s needs when designing this solution. I engaged all parties in the decision-making process to ensure that the new schedule was accepted and supported by everyone involved. This led to greater buy-in and ownership of the solution.
I created the content for a presentation deck leadership used to communicate changes to all staff.
Individual schedules with clear responsibilities were provided for each staff member helping with lunches.
I created a presentation deck for leadership to use to train lunch attendants. It showcases Responsive Classroom and behavior management techniques implemented by teachers at Discovery.
The approach I used not only improved the lunch experience for students but also reduced stress and workload for administrators, teachers, and lunch staff.
One of the skills I strengthened was my ability to approach problems from a systems perspective. I had to consider the interconnectedness of various components and the impact of changes on different stakeholders. I also learned how to effectively communicate with different groups, including administrators, teachers, lunch staff, and students, to ensure that everyone was on board with the changes and understood how they would benefit from the new lunch schedule.
This project was a turning point for me, as I realized my enjoyment for designing new solutions and exploring the design field. Through this experience, I learned that design thinking could be applied to a wide range of fields and problems, and I became eager to explore this further. Overall, this project was a valuable learning experience that allowed me to see the impact that design can have on solving real-world problems and solidified my passion for designing solutions that improve people's experiences. It also helped me further develop skills in design, research, and communication that have proven useful in my transition to the design field.
