Linking Through Green
Design for
Business, Environment, Social
Year
2019-2020
Linking Through Green is a digital platform that connects businesses with civic ecology organisations (community gardens, urban forestry, etc.) to support one another, grow the community and develop new skillsets. The digital platform has five areas of engagement, which include: matching, mapping, challenges, social and learning to facilitate a continuous partnership between the two organisation types. The idea is for businesses to become more embedded into the environment their business resides in by working on pocket projects that could eventually create green corridors throughout their city. Additionally, they can benefit from cost savings, a potential certification and wellbeing for their employees.
INSIGHT
How did this project impact you as a designer moving forward?
The project impacted Tara through communication. Moving forward into her career she has a greater understanding of how to empathize but also advocate for a change in the way different clients use spaces and their relation to the environment.
What was the most difficult part of this project?
The most difficult part was interacting with businesses to get their feedback on the idea during a global pandemic when their main priorities were keeping the business running. At the same time, this was when the mental health of communities was suffering, therefore, restructuring to include an emphasis on environmental community projects would have been beneficial for these individual’s wellbeing.
Do you think this project can be scaled up?
The project has been developed further since the submitted portfolio for academic purposes. Alongside the development of the project, there has been businesses like Pawprint Eco who are engaging businesses about their environmental impact and The City of Edinburgh Council have been working on a Food Growing Strategy. By giving these organizations the research and potential of the project, it would be interesting to see initiatives launched in the United Kingdom.
Final prototype showing the homepage 
Final prototype showing the matches 
Final prototype showing exploration features of the platform 
Rough sketching and planning of the LTG platform design
