The objective of this study was to experience and get to know the culture around the program Healthy Savannah. As the study progressed forward we broadened our focus to include the culture of wellness in the city of Savannah, Georgia. Through intensive research and analysis we were able to gain a thorough comprehension of what it means to be an active member of the Healthy Savannah program and more importantly the culture of wellness. We cast a wide net during our research process to develop a perspective of how Savannahians interact with one another and their city and how they relate to wellness and attempting to lead well-balanced healthy lifestyles. We hope through this report that you will be able to take away key insights into how a nonprofit program like Healthy Savannah might reach the masses and shift the mindset of a community through passionate dedication to a cause.
Project's Goal:
To increase Healthy Savannah's opportunities by finding insights that led to solutions and opportunities for the organization to increase citizen engagement in physical activities and consume a nutritious, balanced diet.
Why do we need Healthy Savannah?
Project overview
Healthy Savannah is dedicated to making Savannah a healthier place to live. Our project aims to increase opportunities for citizens by engaging in physical activity and consuming a nutritious and balanced diet. During the summer of 2007, Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson launched the Healthy Savannah initiative, with the aim of making Savannah a healthier place to live.
Mission:
• To create an environment that makes a healthy choice an easy choice
• To build a collaborative network that identifies and shares resources
• To collect and disseminate information
• To promote the best practices and support innovative programs, as well as advocate effective policies mission
What we did
We decided to approach our investigation by attacking the topic in 3 different phases:
1. Awareness: Secondary Research
2. Comprehension: Primary Research
3. Adaptation: Designed Models
AWERENESS
Secondary Research
We began exploration by submerging ourselves into secondary research. which allowed us to apply designing thinking and frameworks in order to gain insights of the overall wicked problem. We agreed that by applying guide models such as; trend matrix, initial opportunity map, offering activity and culture map, it would help us visualize all the data that we collected and see it from a different prospective. Then we moved forward towards the data analysis, where we applied models such as; Innovation diagnostics, SWOT analysis, and Interest groups discussion that lead us to micro and macro findings and insights that gave us a solid grown in understanding Healthy Savannah and potentially move the program into a more successful state.
After intense secondary research and collaboration over our various models we were able to derive key micro and macro findings and insights. Through comparing and contrasting the various take always from each model and pulling from acquired research knowledge, we generated some high level findings and insights. These could help further understand Healthy Savannah and potentially move the program into a more successful state.
COMPREHENSION
Primary Research
Prior to going out in the field to observe we formulated a plan regarding locations, timing and tools to utilize. we decided to start conducting observations to gain a strong understanding of the people within this culture and the spaces in which they participate in relevant activities. The “Tool Box” we utilize, included data collection frameworks and methods such as; The five sense model and the AEIOU framework -while keeping in mind expected and unexpected occurrences. These were used through the “fly on the wall” technique with some direct participation.
As we moved through observations we decided that shadowing should be conducted with a particular focus. We determined that understanding how local citizens grocery shop and what they typically buy may prove us with a better understanding of the process and how they make decisions. After going through this process we decided to pick individuals to strategic follow in a more formalized shadowing experience. This was conducted using video, audio and notes with two team members present.
After collecting all the visuals, audio and notes we decided to begin the interview phase. We viewed the community as being broken out into several subgroups that we catalogued as: Energetic Do-gooders, Lazy activists, Unmotivated residents and Active Bystanders. For our interview plan we choose to focus on the first the first three categories. We came to the conclusion that these three user groups would provide us with the most general knowledge of what is currently working, as well as providing insights on the groups that would provide the most lift if they were convinced to move into the Energetic Do-Gooders category.
Finally, with all the necessary data collected we were able to process and analyze the information in a through exhaustive deep dive. Allowing us to articulate and define the most important trends and insights from our data points derived from secondary research, observations, shadowing and interviews. We defined and refined key insights from the research phase, which pushed out potential design categories and concepts.
ADAPTATION
Analyzing
At the core of Healthy Savannah is a desire to strike a balance in people’s lives and in the communities where they live through the medium of health and wellness. However, in order to jump start and perpetuate that balance they must address the need through nurturing a strong community, fostering motivation, building a well thought out structure and providing much need education. By perfecting these features the diffusion of a culture of health and wellness in Savannah becomes inevitable.
The insights we pulled led us into the design concept phase where we could start to see trends across user groups in terms of what need to be addressed and why. We implemented the framework “How might we…” while brainstorming design ideas Which allowed us to think out the box and come up with 10 specific design driven solutions:
Healthy Savannah Insight Report
01
GET UP, GET OUT, GET HEALTHY
The Healthy Savannah program should work towards creating a clear, concise and thorough campaign and message to drum up brand awareness and spread the message of wellness throughout the community. Active and thorough communication as well a highly organized outreach and event planning agenda could benefit the mission and bring the culture in Savannah to a new level.
02
Healthy Savannah Approves
Healthy Savannah Approves will provide a rating system for food products, grocery stores, restaurants and fitness facilities. Products and locations that meet the Healthy Savannah standard for health will receive a n approval mark differentiating them from their competitors. This will building community buy in for the culture of wellness and will strengthen the partner network that already exists.
03
Safewayz
Healthy Savannah can begin to motivate people throughout the community to engage in natural movement such as walking and biking as their primary means of transportation around town without having to wait for large and expensive development projects aimed at improving the built environment. By having citizens participate in creating maps related to the safest or most scenic routes. This will promote community involvement and a shift in the mindset around the car centric culture.
04
Savannah Farmville
Savannah Farmville will push out a mobile produce truck that will provide outreach to underprivileged areas within the community. The purpose will be to work primarily with children through cooking workshops and mini cooking competitions. The participants will be provided with a piece from a cooking or gardening kit . In order to have a full kit they will need to communicate with others from the event and set up times to continue to garden and cook healthy together. This will spread the culture of health beyond the event and will push out community building.
05
Savannah International Wellness Fair
The international food fair will tackle community building, family support, awareness with children, competition and other key drivers and outcomes of a strong wellness program. Through competitions, sharing and global experiences, the international food fair will make eating healthy a full experience. If headed by Healthy Savannah it will only further strengthen the brand and create focus on the culture.
06
Recipe Rehab
Recipe Rehab is a concept that can be adapted to multiple settings. It acts as way to take an existing recipe like a family favorite and transforming it to be more healthy. A registered dietician will provide suggestions on a bi-weekly basis. Also, this can be taking to something like the international food fair as a provided activity.
07
Farm Flip
Farm Flip will build off of a network of volunteers to help rehab someone's back or front yard. They will have the option to determine what timeline would work for them. Flipping unused yard space into a garden or a farm can save and even generate money. It can act to education, motivate and create confidence.
08
What Would Jesus Eat (WWJE)
What Would Jesus Do is a service offering with branded wearables. It is aimed at drumming up buy in from potential leaders in the religious communities. There are sections of the bible that talk about foods to eat. Understanding what foods were being eaten and how they impacted health might push out fitness into the church community.
09
Savannah Student Health Forum (SSHF)
The Savannah Student Health Forum will create leaders for the future by connecting high school and college students throughout the community to open a dialogue about the culture of health and wellness and the state of affairs in Savannah. They will have an opportunity to engage in volunteer efforts aimed at improving wellness.
10
Kreissler Gallery of Wellness
The Kreissler Gallery of Wellness will act as a space where local artists can showcase work related to healthy living. Special exhibits will show work from local elementary schools that participate in creating works of art related to being healthy.
Final Thought
What I learned
A strong and supportive community can help be push forward by embracing the power of community, motivation and structure through education. We believe that the design concepts will help citizens of Savannah to stay motivated to make changes to their lifestyles.
Feel free to see check out complete research
The Future
What's next?
Taking a deep dive into the data collected from secondary and primary research efforts help clarify for us the key drivers and outcomes related to the culture of health moving forward both at a macro level and more locally in Savannah. Healthy Savannah has worked diligently and with considerable success a program whose aim is to improve the health of the citizens in the community. However, it still has much room for improvement and growth to ensure it reaches it’s maximum potential and remains an active part of the Savannah scene. The insights we pulled led us into the design concept phase where we could start to see trends across user groups in terms of what need to be addressed and why. The goal going forward would be to take these insights and potential design ideas into the implementation stage.
We hope through this report that you will be able to take away key insights into how a non-profit program like Healthy Savannah might reach the masses and shift the mindset of a community through passionate dedication to a cause