As the brief asks us to complete a qualitative research on the process of getting food from canteen, we formed a group of eight and start our task. Qualitative research is aims an in-depth understanding of the market perception and market needs of a small number of consumers. In our case, the other half of people in our group is our focus group and getting food from the college canteen is like this focus group’s specific activity. Our target is to observe people’s process and look for problems during this activity.
Here starts the process:
Here starts the process:
1） Enter canteen
2） Go to the menu to check what are the options for the day
Photo 1: "what to eat?"3） Go in front to actually see how the food look like, then they probably make their mind what they are having
Photo 2: "observing food" 4） Go back to the queue
Photo 3: queuing for food
5） The queue was quite long so they start conversation with their mates to ask things like what other people are having 
Photo 4: "What do you fancy?"
6） After about five minutes queuing, they get to choose their food
Photo 5: "umm..."
7） Queue again to get paid
Photo 6: "where are you!?"
8） After buying their food they need a drink so they go to the cold food area to choose a drink
Photo 6: "Come on~"
9） Queue again to pay for the drink
Photo 7:"Again..."
10） Bring their lunch to find place to eat (go back to studio normally and at least finish 1/3 of the lunch on the way). 
Photo 8: "still hungry..."
Back in the studio, we interviewed people (playing the role of known brand users) who went to get food with some questions to find out what do they think of the process. Our group was very cooperating and we had more than one moderator. After gathering first hand information, we discussed problems occurred within the process and how we can improve them.
To consider canteen as a public space, its ability of the place to meet functional needs is not very successful due to its size, organization and arrangement of facilities. First of all, as shown in photo 2, people want to know how the food look like, so they go in front of the queue to see and intercept other people, and this may bring on crowdedness. The solution might be having pictures on the menus or rearrange the queuing space to let people see the food easily while in the queue (reference-Ikea dinning). Secondly, to queue again for drinks after getting food is very inefficient.
Again, a rearrangement of space will solve the problem. Also we found after people paying they touch spoons, folks and knives with dirty hands, this is against hygienic rules. 
We came up with ideas like to have the cutleries up-side-down but in an obvious container that people can recognize them easily. The last problem we found was the plastic box they use for food is not easy to carry, especially if you want to bring food back. Maybe a lidded box or a well designed container will be the solution.
So many ideas for new products and interior designs have already come out from this research. It is primary information that could lead us to many design roots.
Photo 8: "still hungry..."Back in the studio, we interviewed people (playing the role of known brand users) who went to get food with some questions to find out what do they think of the process. Our group was very cooperating and we had more than one moderator. After gathering first hand information, we discussed problems occurred within the process and how we can improve them.
To consider canteen as a public space, its ability of the place to meet functional needs is not very successful due to its size, organization and arrangement of facilities. First of all, as shown in photo 2, people want to know how the food look like, so they go in front of the queue to see and intercept other people, and this may bring on crowdedness. The solution might be having pictures on the menus or rearrange the queuing space to let people see the food easily while in the queue (reference-Ikea dinning). Secondly, to queue again for drinks after getting food is very inefficient.
Again, a rearrangement of space will solve the problem. Also we found after people paying they touch spoons, folks and knives with dirty hands, this is against hygienic rules. We came up with ideas like to have the cutleries up-side-down but in an obvious container that people can recognize them easily. The last problem we found was the plastic box they use for food is not easy to carry, especially if you want to bring food back. Maybe a lidded box or a well designed container will be the solution.So many ideas for new products and interior designs have already come out from this research. It is primary information that could lead us to many design roots.
