Walking downtown Copenhagen offers a lot of opportunities, while drinking a medium cappuccino cup you may easily happen to fall into music venues, design museums, inspiring architectures or one of these: a simple litter bin.
With the help of few accurate design expedients, part of a wider campaign of litter prevention, CPH municipality succeeded in transforming the town into a world green capital. By working on the three levels of design the creators increased the user experience of a traditional bin, indirectly encouraging citizens to more active and positive behaviors.
Level 1, Visceral Design: getting in touch
The can is visible, located in a junction between two streets right where it’s most likely to be seen and needed, it catches the eye with its color; by owning visual markers in the form of steps on the ground, it silently calls to the action nudging to the usage. The subconscious mind of walkers pushes them to drinking the last sip and get rid of the empty paper cup.
Level 2, Behavioral Design: The interaction
It may seem trivial, but the physical design of a garbage bin can make the difference. I’ve seen litter bins literally un-openable, unable to fit thrash larger than the average objects a person may carry out, or in general difficult to be used.
In this particular case, its affordances are qualitatively valid: its shape recalls the common idea of a thrash bin with visible components in clear contrast with each others, consequently the only action or usage is very easily identifiable.
In brief, it’s an open black hole where to literally throw waste. No cover, no leverage, no unnecessary or confusing actions to perform: no stress, no anxiety, no overweight for the action.
Level 3, reflective Design: post interaction
A public garbage bin is neither an object able to be owned nor an object which usage can improve self image or determine status symbols. But there’s a message (I’ve been able to understand only with the help of a very sweet Danish granny). “Ren Kærlighed til KBH” can be translated into “clean/pure love to Copenhagen”, a dual message with a dual emotional impact, both on the visceral and on the reflective levels of design. The message is evoking a personal conscious reflection, show your love to CPH, support the town you are part, increase its prestigious by giving it love, pure love.
Researchers from Roskilde University planned a live user survey test to evaluate the effect of the design improvements brought to CPH trash bins, they surprisingly observed a 46% decrease in pedestrian littering. In no other field than usability do small things matter so much. As certified by international awards recognised to Copenhagen during last years, hardly perceivable adjustments in “the design of everyday things” can lead to huge results.
