Renew reimagines a decentralized exchange as a platform for collective care and social impact through a mobile application incorporating familiar social and marketplace features. This approach encourages direct person-to-person exchanges of goods, encouraging community-driven commerce. We have rethought this process by integrating drop-off lockers for secure, contactless exchanges and utilizing Google Maps geolocation to promote local donations.
Renew invites users to rethink their consumption patterns by encouraging them to donate gently used goods instead of discarding them or supporting fast fashion. The app serves as both a tool and a form of art, where everyday gestures transform into acts of generosity, making giving a visible and communal ritual.
At the core of Renew is a social contract ranking system that gamifies generosity. Each donation earns points, allowing community members to climb a public leaderboard and inspire further participation. This design choice turns what might otherwise be anonymous exchanges into a connected network of reciprocity.
The intuitive interface and interactive map view act as living diagrams of shared resources, illustrating how small acts of donation can create a ripple effect and reshape our relationship with material culture. By presenting a living artwork of altruism, Renew challenges assumptions about ownership, value, and the environmental impact of disposability.
As a catalyst for positive cultural change and environmental responsibility, the project underscores the potential for technology to facilitate radical acts of care—both for our communities and the planet.
