3. 1.1 Description
What do they do? (Description of service idea, e.g. a
community garden, a food coop, etc). What are the
demands/problems this initiative responds to? What is the aim
of the initiative? What happens and how does it happens?
What benefits does it bring to the neighborhood?
1.2 Context
What is this neighborhood like? How was it before this new
solution took place?
4. 1.3 History of the initiative
How did the project/initiative start? Who took the initiative? Why?
Can you describe a timeline of events, highlighting success and failure
aspects, major milestones? How far can you go back? How did this
initiative mature? How did it turn to be a real enterprise? (registered,
formalized etc.) Did it receive public or private support of any kind? Did it
help change the public or policy structure?
1.4 Main actors
Who are the users of this initiative? Who are the promoters of this
initiative? Is there a difference between users and promoters or are they
basically the same? Describe users and promoters lifestyles?
Do the users work as a group or groups? Is there a network of related
organizations and/or individuals? Do they have any form of connection or
exchange with other similar initiatives? Was the group inspired by other
examples? Do you know counter examples, (of service ideas that did not
take-off), cases that went wrong?
5. 1.5. Technologies
What are the technologies that the group uses? How are they
used in system?
1.6. Communication
What communication materials do the group have? (e.g.
website, brochures, postcards, etc). What is the main purpose
of these materials? e.g. to keep participants updated about
activities (internal communication) or to get more participants
(external communication)? Does the group want to have more
participants?
6. 1.7. Perspective for the future
What are the perspective/objectives of the group for the next 3-
5 years? What are some of the success factors and possible
risks in the short medium and long term?
1.8. Problems and opportunities
Are there any specific issues/problems/barriers that pose
threats to the initiative? Are there any main areas of concern
among the participants (leaders and users alike)? Are there any
opportunities that could be explored (that are currently not
explored)?
7. 1.9. Indications of other social innovation
Do the users participate in other entrepreneurial endeavors? Do they form
small initiatives on their own? Are members involved in other
“sustainable” services within the community? (Ex. Food Co-op,
carpooling, community gardens, etc)? Do you see evidence of wider
networks that these users contribute to?
1.10. References
Website of the initiative
Interviewee name and contact information (email, address, phone
number) Other references (websites, articles, other people we should talk
to)
8. Quantitative Data Exercise
How many members does the initiative have? How many are very active
in the initiative? How does individual spaces compare with shared/group
spaces? How many members are involved in other community-based
services? (Food Co-op, activist orgs, clothes swapping, bike sharing, etc.)
What is the size of the initiative in square footage?
10. Photo Instructions
Please take close-up detailed photos due to the
winter conditions of gardens (ex. Buds, small
greenery, tools, gathering spaces, colorful areas)
Photos may ONLY be taken with a high
megapixel digital camera (no iphone photos or
low resolution photos)
Choose highest picture quality setting that
camera allows
Always ASK permission before taking photos or
footage of people and/or spaces
See Release Form on the final page of this
document. You MUST have Release Form(s)
signed by the photo/footage subject.
11. Photo checklist
1.Context
1.1 The general context (e.g. landscape, urban area, etc)
1.2 The close context (e.g. the neighbourhood, etc)
1.3 The place from outside (e.g. building, house, etc)
1.4 The entrance (e.g. signage, access door or gate, etc)
1.5 The place from inside (e.g. dedicated room, private places,
gazebo, pond, planting areas, recreational areas, etc)
2. Participant
2.1 Two to three typical users (show them in different situations, e.g.
portrait/standing, in-action, etc)
2.2 The organiser/provider (portrait/standing, in-action, etc)
2.3 Show something characteristic of the user’s motivation to
participate?
2.4 Show the key participants in the service/organization (e.g.
leaders, gatekeepers, organizers, connectors, innovators, etc)
3. Material Artifacts
3.1 Show communication materials of the organization (leaflets,
signage, etc)
3.2 Could you show essential objects that users interact with, or that
provide key moments in the service?
3.3 Could you show evidence of entrepreneurial work by users or
providers? Show intangible/tangible innovations created by users or
providers.
4. Benefits
4.1 Could you show participant benefits? organiser benefits?
collective benefits? environmental benefits? economical benefits?
5. Perspectives for the future
5.1 Could you show the future perspectives of the solution?
12. Film guidelines
Please take footage of the following:
The person/people you are interviewing. Ask them to introduce
themselves, their role in the organization, and a brief description of the
organization (30 sec)
A brief history of the organization (15-30 sec)
A typical activity taking place in the space including participants of the
organization (30 sec-1 min)
Participants of the organization interacting with each other (30 sec)
Participants of the organization interacting with the space/props/objects
(30 sec)
13. General Release
It is hereby agreed by and between the parties that this
document shall constitute a general release authorizing Parsons The
New School to use the photographs, statements and video of the
undersigned subject in perpetuity, without any compensation.
It is also understood that the photographs, statements and/or
videos are to be, and may be, used by Parsons for photographic
displays, exhibits, on institution’s website, and the like, or for
inclusion in any brochures, advertisements, newspapers,
newsletters or any similar activities including print, television or
electronic media, at the discretion of Parsons The New School.
It is further understood by and between both parties to this
agreement that the undersigned subject is not to be compensated
for the use of said materials by Parsons The New School. The
execution of this document constitutes a waiver of any rights to
compensation now or in the future.
It is further understood by and between both parties to this
agreement that this written document constitutes the sum total of all
discussions, negotiations and agreements had with respect to this
release, and that this document, when executed, represents the
entire agreement and understanding between the parties; any
agreement or understanding not contained in this document is
specifically and categorically denied.
Date:
Subject
Witness
