The research that Six Fingers and designers Shay Raviv, Manon van Hoeckel and De Reuringdienst carried out for ‘What if Lab: Students x Corona’ resulted in the so-called “Lockdown Brigade.” This initiative was first used to organise a special student house evening for the ethnographic research. Students could have a Dutch mesh (stamppot) by local culinary hero StamPiet delivered to their doorstep for a small fee and participate in an online quiz in which their needs during the pandemic were discussed. These sessions, in addition to prior research, made it clear that students have a need for more structure in their days, variety and spontaneity in their activities. Structural solutions to make the lockdown more bearable.
In the meantime, the Lockdown Brigade has been developed further into an experimental platform. By means of challenges, spontaneous activities are created and stimulated, students can meet one another within the restrictions, and motivate each other to take action to break through the corona slump.
The pilot of the first two challenges of the Lockdown Brigade, the Earlybird and the Globetrotter challenges, is in full swing. For two weeks, the participating students either get up at 08:00 o’clock or walk 2.5 kilometers daily. The participants receive extra assignments via Whatsapp: if they successfully finish these assignments and share their proof with ‘brigadier’ and coach Steye van Dam on time, they will receive their points. With extra points for originality, of course!
For participants who are in for an extra walk, the scores are placed on a real scoreboard in the center of Eindhoven, but the competition can also be followed online. After two weeks, the final ranking will be determined and the winners will receive their prizes. How did it go? Who scored best? And more importantly, do they feel a little better again?
Keep an eye on our social media for more updates and don’t forget to follow @lockdownbrigade for real-time updates on the challenges.
