The Design of a Ceramic Evaporative Cooling Device for the Storage of Small-scale Urban Farmers' Produce in Johannesburg

Abstract

This study documents the design and development of a ceramic evaporative cooling storage device that prolongs produce shelf-life. Through a lens of Appropriate Technology (AT), this follows a Human-Centred Design (HCD) approach to ensure appropriate outcomes. Desktop research was used to understand the post-harvest activities of small-scale urban farmers regarding the processes involved in getting produce to the consumers after harvest. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to engage with and gather insights and feedback from small-scale urban farmers. The study examined ceramics as a material to develop the cooling storage device considering the functional principles used in existing ceramics evaporative cooling appliances such as Mitticool refrigerator, Zeer Pot and Pot with Upper Chamber. The study explored existing devices to understand how evaporative cooling storage devices function in prolonging the shelf-life of produce. The study identified issues with locally available clay and its porosity. The material compositions were tested with mass-producible ceramic manufacturing methods. The exploration was to aid the development of the device to determine the production method applicable for production. The device was tested in
a laboratory by the design researcher and in the field by participants. The testing of the device in the laboratory was to know how the relative humidity (RH) and temperature attained were favourable in prolonging the shelf-life of produce. It was also tested in the field by small-scale farmers to store harvested produce. Positive feedback was received from small-scale urban farmers, regarding its functionality in increasing harvested produce shelf-life and its usability.

The feedback as to usability received was used to further develop and refine the device to specifications, including the size and other requirements. The further developed and refined device was tested to determine its capacity regarding how much produce it can hold and its functionality. The evaluation of the further developed device was satisfactory to small-scale farmers, as the requirements incorporated into the design met their needs. Suggestions from small-scale farmers to make changes to some features of the developed design were used to propose how the device can be further developed and refined in the future. The application of the HCD process enabled the design process to be effective as users were gainful engaged and their need was appropriately addressed. As relevant to the field of design, the study has shown that through the design process, the skills of a designer can be utilised to provide solutions that meet users' need, based on users' opinion(s), and this, in turn, can result in the product being manufactured. The study also showed how the manufacturing process of products can be simplified using design skills. Thus, indicating that designers can contribute to the development of production techniques, relevant for the manufacturing of a product.

Date of Award	2022
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Johannesburg
Supervisor	Ashton Margarete Moseley (Chief supervisor) & Angus Donald Campbell (Co-supervisor)