Improving Hong Kong Street Waste Disposal Experience May 2019 | Page 56

Introduction - Uniform
Uniform is beyond just a physical garment, it has both
functional and psychological purpose. According to
renowned social critic and historian Paul Fussell there
are 4 symbolic meanings in uniform:
1. disciplined, integrated, and equal;
2. teamwork and image;
3. shared disgrace and honor,
mutually identifying with each other;
4. being in line with the spirit of
professional services.
However, currently, the uniform of Hong Kong waste
collectors is very standard and doesn’t seem to serve
any of the above purposes
Idea:
We want to come up with a new uniform that matches daily
needs of collectors functionally and psychologically. Here
are the key design criteria we had in mind when we did our
design:
1. Safety - everyday collectors get injured during work, slip
on wet surfaces, cuts from damaged garbage bins,
heat stroke due to exposure under the sun etc. Uniform
can play a vital role in reducing the chance of all these
injuries.
2. User Friendly - Uniform and tools at the moment are not
meeting the daily needs of collectors. Based on insights
from interview and observation, we want to design a
set of uniform and tools that meet different contexts of
collectors’ daily work, regarding seasonality, time of the
day, weather etc.
3. Standardized - Most vendors only provide basic
uniform (shirts and pants) to collectors. Other essential
accessories they need are purchased from their own
pocket including hats, gloves, boots etc. We need to have
a standardized uniform for all collectors and make sure
they are well equipped to carry out their daily duties.
4. Positive Image - Uniform is a key touchpoint not just for
collectors but also for general public regarding how
collectors see themselves and how other people see
them. We have heard stories collectors got rejected when
they tried to enter restaurants and shopping malls with
their uniform on. We want to use the new uniform to
portray a professional image of the collectors and give
them the pride they deserve.
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Design Change x Design Trust
Design Change x Design Tr u st
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