The world is filled with pressing social challenges that cry out for solution. On one side are issues related to natural resources, such as global climate change and adequate food supplies. On the other are problems with service systems, exemplified by issues with the cost and quality of healthcare as well as diccifulties with transportation and improvements in education.

Context
Chongming Island shares similar challenges like other Chinese rural areas such as unbalance of social structure, scarce public life, weakness in culture, underdeveloped agriculture, low income, poor infrastructures and so on. As a general stigma, the traditional rural ways of living and producing are considered less attractive under the national movement of urbanization. To re-achieve the balance between rural and urban towards a sustainable society, the advantages of rural area should be explored and turn into opportunities for further development through collaborations of locals and creative communities. This is a new but broad area for social sustainable design research and practice.

Context
: China has been in agriculture society for thousands of years. With rapid urbanization, a large number of farmers become urban residents. Today, food system in China has been highly industrialized and commercialized, which brings big challenges in food safety and quality. These new urban people with vivid memory of agriculture and food quality, address strong need in plant by recognizing the threads of food quality and safety with modernization of agriculture. One aspect of the project explored was new possibilities for food solutions: services and systems aiming to radically change the mainstream food industries and consumption that has been recognized widely as unsustainable.