Kai Alexander Patricio

Project Overview

Food is intimate to every individual and can communicate across cultures. While healthy foods are a human right, too many people are without access to consistent quality food. The problem of food access is not technically a problem of lack of food, but largely an issue of income inequality and individual mobility. In Syracuse, every zip code has at least one sector that is considered a food desert. However, Central New York is a bastion of food producers, including small farmers which are a keystone for a sustainable future. This project investigates how to expand food access as well as support small farmers by utilizing strategic technologies. This research includes the development of a digital interface that allows users to view and order food options that features a business model that allows for a community fund that expands food access & pays farmers. It includes the development of a mobile application named Farm Loop, which empowers farmers to sell directly to consumers via an online retail platform or to the emergency food system for a lower price. The application features a system design that facilitates the transfer of products from the farmer or their direct market outlets to individual homes or the emergency food system. This supports both the small farmer with additional revenue streams while expanding food access.

Bio

Kai Alexander Patricio is a multidisciplinary designer compelled by co-design processes. Raised in a woodshop adjacent to a commercial kitchen, Patricio’s design practice is shaped by the challenges and successes those two disciplines can produce. His process is rigorous but experimental and always attempts to push boundaries. Patricio is the author of Design Led No Code, a methodology using Design Thinking, UX research methods, and No Code tools to craft innovative digital products and user experiences. His current research interests include regenerative design, interaction design, food design, and the development of new digital interfaces.