BS

Ben Smart
Spatial Designer

Ben led a complex project with great

skill and wonderful executive of design
and the engagement of staff and
students. My experience of working with
Ben on this and other projects is that
he possesses not only high level design
expertise but also exceptional team
skills and is resilient and persistent in
challenging circumstances.

- Professor Roni Brown

Pro-Vice Chancellor Academic Development
University of the Creative Arts
Ben has been a highly valued
contributor and collaborator in
programmes undertaken by the Centre
for Sustainable Design. Bens passion
for sustainability is demonstrated in
a very practical sense, through his
commitment to the development of
real world projects that have engaged
large numbers of people in and around
Farnham. Ben is one of the best MA
students that I have worked with.

- Scott Keiller
Sustainable Innovation Coordinator
The Centre for Sustainable Design

BS

I am, first and foremost, a problem solver. The challenge

of finding solutions excites me and I see new problems as
an opportunity to learn and teach. I have been a teaching
assistant at university, helping students find their footing
and gain direction when presented with new projects and
design challenges.
Everything I do, I temper with a scientifically and holistically
minded approach. That means that I will avoid bias to a
particular point of view when opposing evidence presents
itself. I prefer my opinions to be challenged than validated,
though I can usually present a well-constructed argument
for my own views. I will never settle for a substandard
solution to a problem and Im careful of solutions that
may cause further problems.
The innovations of the next generation fascinate me.
I am a strong advocate that our economy needs to be
prioritising clean technology and sustainable design. As
such, I have taken a keen interest in Biomimicry, natures
inspiration in systemic design, as well as the theory of
circular economy. I hope that one day I can have the
opportunity to academically research both in detail and
become a leading voice.
My Masters degree in Interior Design focused on the
problem of food security and food growing in urban
areas, as you will see in these pages. Through this degree,
I focussed on developing my research methodology.
Through secondary research, I looked into the innovations
that may alter the way we grow food and learned to explore
and cross reference statistics to ensure that my approach
to redesigning food was correct. I took a participatory

approach to primary research by getting involved in

local food growing communities and establishing two
community schemes of my own a food garden on my
university campus and I collaborated with the Centre for
Sustainable Design and Transition Town Farnham to put
together a monthly repair caf for the town community.
It was through the research in my degree that I became
interested in Urbanization.
Years of experience in education and previous studies
in drama have helped me to become an excellent
communicator. I enjoy sharing my ideas, as well as hearing
the ideas of others. I am adept at helping to realise the
designs of others, particularly when those ideas are
aligned with my moral design values. I have recently
become a regular copywriter for a hobbyist 3D printing
magazine, giving me a lot of practice in the written word to
accompany my skills in the spoken word. I am becoming
increasingly better at demonstrating concepts graphically
and diagrammatically, though I am always finding room
for improvement in this regard.
Where people might often see problems as an obstacle,
I see them as an opportunity. I know that tackling design
problems will develop my own skills and I am learning
how find and use creative solutions to make a virtue
from necessity. With that mind set, combined with my
research, communication and design skills, I am precisely
compatible with a career as a design strategist.

MA Research
My MA journey took a lot of turns as I
explored my subject area. Originally, I
had looked into the concept of using
English Cultural Heritage to define
and characterise a public space that
sought to preserve culture in the
face of globalisation. It wasnt long
before I realised that culture was
something that had to adapt to be
preserved, and that historical culture
could only serve as museum pieces.
Food became the focus of my research.
The post-war methods of growing food
are soon going to require a major
overhaul to adapt to changes in climate
and economy. I explored the problem
both top-down and bottom-up. I got
involved with and created community
groups interested in developing local
economic resilience.
My final body of work consisted of
several projects, three of which are
demonstrated in these pages.

BS

Primary

Secondary

Conclusions
Production

70%

Working on community farms

Of total
consumed
water is used
by industrial
agriculture

36%

Of the earths
land surface is
agricultural land,
with little room
for expansion

32%

Of the worlds
carbon
emissions are
caused by
agriculture

Topsoil is being depleted, eroded

and washed away

10 to 40

times faster than it is being

replaced.
Cooking and serving with a
steet food vendor

To solve these problems,

what would the next

Agricultural Revolution
look like?

What Innovations might contribute

to the future of food?

Organising and Volunteering at

Farnham Repair Cafe

How can new economic models,

like the circular economy, create a
framework for food production?
Which current technologies will
prevent the exhaustion of land, soil,
oil and water?
In what ways can a new food culture
interface with public and respond to
social, economic and cultural issues?

Work Experience in Green

Urban Design

How can we grow food without

depleting our own resources,
damaging ecosystems or
contributing to global warming?

Distribution

How can we make the most of the

food already in the economy, reduce
waste and help more people gain
access to food?

Community

How can we re-establish food as

a central focus on culture and use
this opportunity to generate social
capital and community resilience?

Culture

How can we make the public aware

of where food comes from, the effect
it has on the planets health and the
role they can play?

Can Urban Agriculture

meet food growing with architecture and city

planning to solve the challenges faced
by a new food revolution?

Chuckwagon
Chuckwagon focused on the issue of
distribution. I became interested in how
food would operate in Urban Areas.
There are two major issues to counter:
moving food around and dealing
with food waste. Urban areas are
considered food deserts, where
growing is currently very rare and
produce must be transported in.
Chuckwagon is a business model that
would keep food in local circulation.
Operating a bit like a portable food
bank, it would take surplus or edible
waste from supply chains and move
between locations to cook and serve it.

Winnebago Restoration Process

Building Community
With Food

BS

Chuckwagon would
serve food at festivals
or community spaces,
creating a banquet area
to keep diners in close
proximity. Volunteers
may even get involved in
cooking and serving food.

Concept Visual

Reclaim
Everything

As well as utilising food

waste from the supply
chain, the vehicle it would
be refurbished from
scrapyards. New fittings
would use plastic lumber
for a modular design
that can be applied to
different models.

Engage the Entire

Supply Chain

Chuckwagon would
connect directly with
suppliers and close the
supply loop by providing
waste back to farmers for
composting or for reusing
packaging. Because
the kitchen is mobile,
logistics become easy.

UCA Food Garden

In the middle of my MA, I caught news
that the university was interested in
developing an allotment for students
to use. Exploring the possibilities
for locations, we found an unloved
courtyard on campus that was secure
enough and recieved the right level of
sunlight to do the job.
The university granted a budget of
3000 to build the garden. This was my
first time working on procurement and
supply chains. It was very important to
me that everything was reliably sourced.
This project was all about engaging
students. The UCA student body was
involved from start to finish and interest
accelerated as the project progressed.

Concept Sketches

Building With
Found Materials

BS

The team of UCA students

spent many days diving
into bins and bushes
looking for scraps to use.
Much of the construction
was done with pallets. We
even managed to find 120
vodka bottles to use as
setts around a bed.

Construction by Students

Promoting Healthy
Eating and Wellbeing
The garden wouldnt
produce a surplus of
food, but got students
involved in using their
hands to grow. It is
a space that allows
students to talk about
and practice diet and
wellbeing.

Permaculture in the Garden

Space Belongs
to its Users

The food garden is the

only space on campus
that is entirely the
responsibility of students.
Because the student
body has this kind of
ownership, it is a project
that will change as the
community builds it.

Brief Extract

Library of
The Future
The Library of the Future is a research
and development task, intended as a
thought experiment into how a complex,
contemporary idea can be navigated
and strategised as a designer. The goal
is to situate the concept of the library
in the 21st century, applying new social,
historical and technological contexts
to an existing library brand. How can a
library get with the times and remain an
integral and beloved urban community
space.

New Dimensions

An esteemed and celebrated public library system within a large

Roger E. Levien [2] describes four dimensions for new libraries to

capital city requires consultance in defining their needs and

consider. Many of these spectrums measure, reassess and challenge

developing a program for the renovation and expansion of their

the traditional paradigms of a library.

main branch building.

Existing Library Function

Shoe Lane
Library Situ

Proposed Annex Intent

Shoe Lane Library, London provides a

Existing Library

geographical anchor for the Library of the

Physical

Virtual

Individual
Learning

Collaborative
Learning

Collection

Creation

Archive

Portal

Future project. In the context of the city

Proposed Annex

of London, this project examines how an

existing library in the urban centre can
adapt and expand according to the projected
needs and wants of the near future.

Thameslink
Station

The Library has easy walking, transport

and road access thanks to Londons dense

Library Site

infrastructure. It is also in the vicinity of

Kings College London, so the new concept

Kings College
London

should facilitate local students needs.

Central City of London Demographics

Key Design Considerations

This page documents the groundwork

to analyse opportunities, possibilities
and potential pitfalls.

Given that the existing library building facilitates traditional needs,

the new annex would be the antithesis of its parent.
The

new

annex will support collaboration, creation and

communication. How can technology assist here?

The existing facility already offers a physical archive of information.

BS

Infants and
Under 12s

6%

Secondary
Education

6%

Higher
Education

8%

Working Adults
aged <35

30%

Working Adults
aged >35

35%

Retired
and OAPs

15%

The new annex should provide a virtual portal to this information

and beyond, though should not dismiss physical information.
What can the library service provide that a home computer cant?

References:

[1] Agresta, M. (2014) - slate.com: What Will Become of the Library?

[2] Levien, R.E. (2011) - ALA: Strategic Visions for the 21st Century Public Library
[3] Peterson K.M. (2013) - School Library Journal: Libraries Play A Central Role in Connected Learning
[4] Ipsos MORI and Shared Intelligence (2013) - Arts Council England: Envisioning the Library of the Future Phases 1 and 2

Chinampa
My main MA project looked at
foods position as urbanisation
develops. Chinampa, named after
the Mesoamerican floating island
food growing method,
takes an
abandoned cafe in Guildford and
applies technology that would enable
a degree of urban food growing.

Site Geometry Analysis

All of the knowledge and experience

from previous projects in my MA
contributed to this one. I explored
supply chains and circular economy
to develop a robust business model.
Materials were selected for their
environmental principles. Both the
interior and exterior of the space are
explored and developed.

Site Overview

Pedestrian Analysis

Green Steps Community Space

Cafe Entrance

Cafe Interior Space

View through to Growing Space

Design Development
Proposed Geometries

Front-lining
Food Growing

BS

Diners will always have

a vista through to the
Aquaponic food growing
systems inside the cafe.
While it is not enough
to sustain the cafe, it
makes an excellent
demonstration device to
be used in workshops.

Space Between
Buildings

Urbanism is going to
require architects and
designers to think
about how people go
from place to place.
This project removes
space dominated by
motor traffic in favour of
pedestrian movement.

Biophilic
Urbanism

A lot of research has gone

into the health benefit
of being surrounded by
nature. It increases land
value and decreases
crime rates. Bringing
nature into cities benefits
biodiversity, sustainability
and wellbeing.

Chinampa - New Community Space

Education

Key Skills

Interior Design MA

CV

University for the Creative Arts

An excellent presenter, communicator

and problem solver. Values hard work
and collaboration.

Interior Architecture and Design BA(Hons)

Believes that good designs are those

which solve problems and are developed
through a holistic understanding of the
people and communities that use and
are affected by them.

Selected Employment

Graduated 2015

Verbal and Written communication

Awarded Merit

Visualisation and graphics

Public speaking and Tutoring

Sketching, Drafting and Hand Rendering

Graduated 2013

CAD Rendering

Awarded 2:1

CAD Technical Drawing

Model and Maquette Making

Farnham

University for the Creative Arts

Farnham

Copywriter (2015 - Present)

Eaglemoss Publications Ltd.
Kensington Village, Avonmore Rd
London W14 8TS

68 Shiplake Bottom
Peppard Common
Henley-on-Thames
Oxfordshire
RG9 5HP
Home: 0118 437 4117
Mobile: 0782 481 3894
E-mail: b.j.smart1@gmail.com

Software Proficiencies

Regular writer for a magazine,

Sketchup

3D Create and Print. This includes

Vectorworks

articles and tutorials on 3D printing

Microsoft Office

and using CAD software.

Photoshop

InDesign

Teaching Assistant (2012 - 2015)

Teaching classes and individuals on

Blender

University for the Creative Arts

using CAD software and developing

Rhinoceros

general design skills.

AutoCAD

Illustrator

Farnham GU9 7DS

Extra-Curricular

Awards

References

CircularX:

3D Create & Print 2015

Scott Keiller

Dr. Roni Brown

Circular Economy - Introduction

Finalist

Sustainable Innovation Coordinator

Pro-Vice Chancellor

Verified Certificate - Passing Grade

Awarded by Sebastian Conran

The Centre for Sustainable Design

The Centre for Sustainable Design

University for the Creative Arts

University for the Creative Arts

Creative Challenge 2015

Farnham

Farnham

Finalist

Surrey

Surrey

Highly Commended

skeiller@ucreative.ac.uk

rbrown6@ucreative.ac.uk

Delft University of Technology

Via EdX.org, 2015

BS

01252 892 879

Waverley Design Awards 2013

Finalist - Academic Project (Over 21s)
Highly Commended