GMU:Synbio supermarket/Concept

Supermarket Conception

Supermarket is the theme and the key element of the project. We are using the appearance of a retail facility that offers consumer products to communicate the implications and possibilities of synthetic biology for every day life. The metaphor has to be developed and adapted to the projects purpose. The "look&feel" has to be developed. What is it like to be and to shop in our supermarket? What is the customer experience? How can the idea of a supermarket be evoked, experience and manifested in the minds of its visitors? A distinct visual language and a Corporate Design has to be developed. The supermarket will be primarily be realized in form of a web platform. It is its key element. The web platform needs to be developed and implemented.

Atmosphere

What is it like to be and to shop in our supermarket? What is the customer experience? How can the idea of a supermarket be evoked, experience and manifested in the minds of its visitors?

The Synthetic Biology Supermarket – a sensual experience of virtual (and) reality. Enter the Sythetic Biology Supermarket, smell it, see it, touch it, feel it. Buy and change your life. Feel what synthetic biology could change in our world and be confronted with the question: How do we want to live?

First question to answer: Which retail format should it be? We already debated different possible retail formats: Flagship store, mall, department store, supermarket or boutique. We narrowed it down to three possibilities: Supermarket, department store or mall. Each format offers different pro's and con's. In the next step a decision will be made. However the main direction of the project is clear and will not be hugely affected by this decision.

• Mila, Christian

Web Platform

The supermarkets appearance complies with established web shop formats, however its communicative goal is fundamentally different: To stimulate the engagement with synthetic biology, Its possibilities and implications, by means of offering exemplary "consumer products" in a retail environment.

Products will be represented by the use of images, videos and textual product descriptions. The intention is to stimulate engagement with synthetic biology by giving information about its methods and possibilities. Here one of the projects intentions, the communication of the concepts of synthetic biology, becomes most apparent.

Established web2.0 formats such as user feedback and comments form a additional communication channel. Products can be described from a users perspective. Made up persons who have already purchased an article and integrated it in their daily life describe their experiences. This brings the possibility of illustrating the implications for everyday life from a personal and more profound perspective. This will generally be conceived as a less biased and therefor more credible opinion then a vendors product description. A comment function enables the sites visitors to leave comments on products and engage in discussions and an exchange of ideas on the respective products and synthetic biology. A user forum offers the opportunity of deepened discussions and exchange of ideas on the idea of a supermarket of synthetic biology, its products and synthetic biology and its relevance and implications. Moderators will supply relevant additional information following the projects idea of helping to create an informed opinion of synthetic biology.

• Ursula (tech. recruiting), Marcus (text), Bastian

Graphic Design

A distinct visual language and a Corporate Design will be developed. Covering the developement of all elements of a retail facilities communicative neccesities such as logo, webdesign, advertisment, signs, price tags,…

• Jiayuan, Vanessa, Yu Xiaorui

Representation at iGEM

• Mila (Head)
• Ideas
  • Shop
  • Vending Machine
  • Shopping Cart
  • Bar Code
  • Shop
  • Video

Team

• Mila
• Christian
• Ursula (tech. recruiting)
• Marcus (text)
• Bastian
• Jiayuan
• Vanessa
• Yu Xiaorui