Stanford University, Spring 2010CS377v - Creating Health Habitshabits.stanford.edu

Veggie MagnetsA conceptual design by

Aditi Mallick

Design ChallengeTo influence at least 5 people to create a

stronger habit of eating vegetables each dayTime limit: 7-10 days

Stanford University, Spring 2010CS377v - Creating Health Habitshabits.stanford.edu

Veggie Magnets

Persuasive Purpose To influence 5+ people to create a stronger

habit of eating vegetables each day using mobile/social tech in some significant way

Industrial Design

&

Stanford University, Spring 2010CS377v - Creating Health Habitshabits.stanford.edu

User Description

• Medical Students

• Who Eat lunch in the new Med Student Lounge

• Check Facebook & Gmail accounts frequently throughout the day

Stanford University, Spring 2010CS377v - Creating Health Habitshabits.stanford.edu

Veggie Magnets

If she eats lunch in the student lounge, Jane may see the same Veggie Magnet on the lounge fridge

To track her success at eating veggies, Jane fills out the Google form that Aditi sends to her every afternoon (after lunch).

Jane wakes up in the morning, and as she opens the fridge to pack her lunch, she sees the Veggie Magnet on the fridge, triggering her to pack 1 serving of veggies with lunch.

Jane packs veggies in her lunch box and heads off to school.

Jane also receives a Facebook message in the morning/during class reminding her to eat her veggies at lunchtime.

Success rates get shared with everyone in the group, to increase accountability and provide positive reinforcement

Stanford University, Spring 2010CS377v - Creating Health Habitshabits.stanford.edu

Prototype of Veggie Magnets

Stanford University, Spring 2010CS377v - Creating Health Habitshabits.stanford.edu

Features/Functionality

• Fridge Magnet = trigger • In the AM - when students are packing lunch • In the PM - when students are eating lunch

in the student lounge• A one-time trigger that serves as a ‘cue’ for

veggie eating

• Daily reminder via Facebook • The ‘cycle’ trigger for those who may need it!

• Google form to track progress• Fast, free, and easy to monitor

Stanford University, Spring 2010CS377v - Creating Health Habitshabits.stanford.edu

Theoretical Justifications

• Ideal user group• Motivated• Constant access to student lounge fridge

• Flex behavior • Building on cycle & cue behavior lessons

• Tapping into Social Networks & Compliance• Users are part of Team Veggie• Others in the lounge will see classmates’

veggie habits

Stanford University, Spring 2010CS377v - Creating Health Habitshabits.stanford.edu

Results of User Testing

• Stay tuned!

Stanford University, Spring 2010CS377v - Creating Health Habitshabits.stanford.edu

Shortcomings of Design

• Not everyone eats lunch in the Student Lounge

• Users may not check Facebook messages frequently enough

• Lack of access to vegetables at home• Lack of knowledge/skills about how to

cook veggies

Stanford University, Spring 2010CS377v - Creating Health Habitshabits.stanford.edu

Possibilities

• Design Veggie Magnets to put in all the staff and student lounge fridges across campus• Undergrads, Grad students, Staff, & Faculty

• Allow users to share veggie recipes via Facebook

• Replace magnets with photos of celebrities or colleagues eating vegetables• Perhaps a better trigger?

Stanford University, Spring 2010CS377v - Creating Health Habitshabits.stanford.edu

Next Steps in Design Process

• Design & Distribute Veggie Magnets

• Invite users to participate• Stratify initial groups

based on current ‘veggie’ habits

• Refine tracking method• Perhaps a more dynamic,

real-time method like text messaging