Matthew Bambach

Lake to Lille
Experience Design, Illustration & Social Impact
MICA, Spring 2015
How might we persuade everyday people to drink more tap water instead of expensive, wasteful bottled water?



Introduction
Lille is a city full of underestimated treasures—including the remarkably pure municipal water. Lille’s water is a healthy, economic and sustainable choice, but many citizens distrust it and drink expensive, wasteful bottled water instead.

The Pitch
Our team set out to change the perception of Lille water by creating something exciting that builds trust in the water’s drinkability and celebrates its high quality.

Our Solution
We propose a mobile, interactive exhibit that takes primary school students through the journey of tap water. It is contained in two trailers driven by a biodiesel-fueled truck that travels between schools. The four “rooms” in the trailers contain playful, participatory exhibits that represent stages of water treatment.

Collection
Children enter from the rear door of the truck, and walk through a “lake” filled with balls of various colors and sizes. Blue balls represent clean water, while others represent impurities found in unfiltered water. The water and its “impurities” are collected and carried into the next stage.

Filtration
Participants pass through layers of transparent walls speckled with progressively smaller holes that represent different filtration processes. The water balls of appropriate size are pushed through these holes; by the end, only the clean blue ones remain.

Delivery
With clean water in hand, children enter this phase on a slide then race to quickly pump the “water” through pipes & into homes and businesses.

Water Use
Finally, children enter the kitchen of a home where they see how water benefits them in daily life. They discuss tap water’s importance to the body, the community & the planet.

Poster & Bottle
Participants are given a colorful informational poster that reminds them about the filtration process. They also walk away with a branded, reusable water bottle.

App
Games that take the experience home in a fun, interactive way.