Contents Summary of Design ........................................................................... 2 Key Preliminary Research ................................................................ 5 Questioning the Public ..................................................................... 8 Design Development ....................................................................... 12 Prototype .......................................................................................... 13 User Testing ..................................................................................... 14 Project Partners ................................................................................ 15 Technical Drawings ........................................................................
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Final Design ...................................................................................... 20 Conclusion ........................................................................................ 28
Design Summary is a hydroponic plant pot which enables users with little space, time or knowledge to grow herbs in the convenience of their home. Encouraging the public to grow their own herbs is an effective way to reduce carbon emission. It removes the products usual food miles and excess packaging as well as stopping the discarding of unused food which often happens when herb packets are brought.
their packaging waste to meet the Courtauld Commitment waste reduction aims, as well as reducing their carbon footprint because they would no longer be importing the herbs from countries such as Italy or Egypt helping them to meet the EPEE carbon cuts. For this reason the methods of production as well as packaging have been directed to allow mass production.
As well as these environmental points, the financial savings of growing herbs can be used to attract customers. In 4-5 weeks you can have a fully grown basil plant. A packet of basil can cost up to 85p in the supermarket and goes off in under a week. Growing your own a cut and come again plant like basil means that you can have constant fresh herbs within your home ready to cook with.
From my primary research I have found that an overwhelming amount of people would like to grow their own food but either don’t have the space, time or don’t know how to. I am designing a product that would be:
The design uses the simple hydroponic wick system to which means it can be maintained with limited time and skill. It has been designed it to stick to windows so that it takes up no surface space and can placed anywhere in the home that receives the best natural light. The system uses bat guano, an organic plant nutrient, to help the plants grow. This also means the user knows exactly what has been used to help their plant grow unlike many foods today. The product is designed to be sold in supermarkets as a way to help them reduce
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• • •
Simple enough for a beginner gardener to use Self sufficient enough so that a busy person could only have to tend to it infrequently And vertical - to save on space
As my project is about feeding cities who have little space to grow their own food I have found people to test my prototype in London. I have tested my product on people in flats to prove that you can grow food even if you have such little space. For the other half of my primary research I have interviewed people who want to grow food, but cannot for a variety of reasons, to make sure that my design is appropriate for all groups of people.
“We should learn to approach the natural world as a library of ideas rather than a warehouse of materials� Barry Al Katz
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This project was created to encourage people:
To grow and eat organic food
To eat more local food
To eat more healthily
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Preliminary Research Growing Food At Home
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The Journey of Herbs To the UK
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Where Did Variety Go in Supermarkets?
Supermarkets usually sell only one basil type called ‘Sweet Genovese’, however basil has over 25 varieties. Why limit ourselves? Food markets showcasing variety are extremely popular in London. Instead of placing this demand onto supermarkets, why don’t we grow it ourselves?
Organic food: At the Real Food Festival the food was organic and simple. People were selling food that was creative with just a few simple ingredients.
Variation: At Borough Market people wanted more variety of the same food. The photo shows a stall devoted to just mushrooms.
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Asking the Public About Growing Food I really like eating organic food. It tastes better, its better for you, I just wish I had the space to grow my own. - Gorden Stabbins
Questions at the Stannary, Tremough
I wish I could eat healthier, but I don’t have the money to. Sometimes I just eat plain noodles. - El Hayms
* Questions on the Moor, Falmouth
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* If it was cheaper more people would support it
* Of people asked in Falmouth and Tremough
68% of people asked*
would like to grow herbs within their homes
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Research Conclusion
Almost all of the people interviewed and questioned wanted to grow herbs in their home however they...
...Don’t have space where they live to do so. Many of them lived in flats and apartments with no gardens. Or if they did have a garden, sometimes it was communal and they were only allowed to plant decorative plants there.
...Don’t have the time or knowledge look after plants.
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Results
41%
95%
Can’t keep the potted herb plants they buy alive.
Don’t finish packed herbs before they die
48%
Find supermarket herbs expensive
Design Constraints • • • • •
The design had to be small enough to fit into either a house or a flat, or if the user has enough space (outside potentially on a balcony or roof) meaning only small plants could be grown The design has to be light so it is user friendly It has to be cheap to buy and use It has to be easy to understand It must be easy to manage - it has to be able to work around different working schedules and hours
PASSIVE HYDROPONICS
Passive hydroponics uses no pumps or moving parts making it cheaper than other types of hydroponics. It relys on the capillary action of the wick.
“The wick system is easy and inexpensive to set-up and maintain.” [Greentrees Hydroponics] Hydroponic “Grow Bottle” inspiration
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DESIGN DEVELOPMENT Lid
Pot
Joined
Each of these changes were made after a research development, a suggestion from a project partner or a user suggestion/test. All of the changes were for functional not aesthetic purposes.
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PROTOTYPES 1
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The prototype was made from a lathed block of wood (1) and vacuum formed. (2) After choosing the best design, these prototypes were then given to the users to test out. Image 3 is the final prototype that was given to the users. See in “Primary Research in London� book for more information
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USER USERTESTING GROUP The prototype was tested with two users who: 1) Lived in an apartment block 2) Had no space to grow his own plants 3) Had little time to care for them 4) Didn’t know how to look after them The research was focused in London because the project is aimed at encouraging cities to grow food.
Name: Andy Page Location: Kings Cross in London Why does he want to grow herbs: Wants to have a chance to use fresh ingredients in his cooking and to save money. Why hasn’t he tried to grow food before: No space or time
A kit was given to Mr. Page to test how easy the initial prototype was to set up. Changes were then made to the pots shape and instruction manual depending on the reactions of the users. The pot base for example needs a spout to pour the water into to make it easier to fill up.
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PROJECT PARTNERS
Anne Osman - Duchy College
John Baxter - Growing Life
James - Growell 15
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87.00
87.00
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DIMENSIONS ARE IN MM TOLERANCES: FRACTIONAL ANGULAR: MACH BEND THREE PLACE DECIMAL
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
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Q.A
MFG
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Clear
DRAWING IS THE SOLE PROPERTY OF SIGNATURE NAME SOPHIE WALKER. ANY REPRODUCTION IN PART OR AS A WHOLE WITHOUT THE DRAWN COLOUR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF STICK IT, STACK CHK'D IT, GROW IT IS PROHIBITED. APPV'D DO NOT SCALE DRAWING
Polypropylene
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED: 3MM WALL THICKNESSFINISH: DIMENSIONS ARE IN MILLIMETERS SURFACEMATERIAL FINISH: PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL TOLERANCES: LINEAR: ANGULAR: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS
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46.01
63.74
DATE
WEIGHT:
MATERIAL:
NONE
COMMENTS:
DRAWN
NAME
DATE 20.04.10
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DEBUR AND BREAK SHARP EDGES
SOPHIE WALKER
A
Bowl Visual
SCALE:1:2
DWG NO.
1
SHEET 1 OF 4
SHEET 1 OF 1
top bowl visual1
SCALE: 1:4
TITLE:
REVISION
LOGO:
Lid Base DO NOT SCALE DRAWING
SIZE DWG. NO.
TITLE:
Stick it, Stack it, Grow it
PRODUCT NAME:
A4
176
40
31.97
5
6
100.93
17.18
96.49
17
4
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DRAWING IS THE SOLE PROPERTY OF SOPHIE WALKER. ANY REPRODUCTION IN PART OR AS A WHOLE WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF STICK IT, STACK IT, GROW IT IS PROHIBITED.
PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL
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44.08
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Clear 3
DO NOT SCALE DRAWING
COLOUR
Polypropylene
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SOPHIE WALKER
NAME
DATE 20.04.10
17.11
2
The detailed drawing is scaled 1:5
COMMENTS:
3MM WALL THICKNESS MATERIAL
DRAWN
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DIMENSIONS ARE IN MM TOLERANCES: FRACTIONAL ANGULAR: MACH BEND THREE PLACE DECIMAL
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
63.50
SCALE: 1:3
Lid Part 2 1
SHEET 2 OF 4
LOGO:
Lid Door SIZE DWG. NO.
A
TITLE:
Stick it, Stack it, Grow it
PRODUCT NAME:
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5
PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL
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THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DRAWING IS THE SOLE PROPERTY OF SOPHIE WALKER. ANY REPRODUCTION IN PART OR AS A WHOLE WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF STICK IT, STACK IT, GROW IT IS PROHIBITED.
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170
30
150 34
Light Grey 3
DO NOT SCALE DRAWING
COLOUR
Polypropylene
NONE
COMMENTS:
3MM WALL THICKNESS MATERIAL
DRAWN DIMENSIONS ARE IN MM TOLERANCES: FRACTIONAL ANGULAR: MACH BEND THREE PLACE DECIMAL
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
5
8 63
18
85
NAME SOPHIE WALKER
DATE
2
20.04.10
SCALE: 1:2
Inner
1
SHEET 3 OF 4
LOGO:
Inner Pot SIZE DWG. NO.
A
TITLE:
Stick it, Stack it, Grow it
PRODUCT NAME:
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2.500
5
25
19
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THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DRAWING IS THE SOLE PROPERTY OF SOPHIE WALKER. ANY REPRODUCTION IN PART OR AS A WHOLE WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF STICK IT, STACK IT, GROW IT IS PROHIBITED.
PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL
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190 184 172
Dark Grey 3
DO NOT SCALE DRAWING
COLOUR
Polypropylene
NONE
COMMENTS:
3MM WALL THICKNESS MATERIAL
DRAWN DIMENSIONS ARE IN MM TOLERANCES: FRACTIONAL ANGULAR: MACH BEND THREE PLACE DECIMAL
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
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92 123
30 NAME SOPHIE WALKER
2
20.04.10
DATE
Base SCALE: 1:3
Bottom
SIZE DWG. NO.
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TITLE:
1
SHEET 4 OF 4
LOGO:
Stick it, Stack it, Grow it
PRODUCT NAME:
The lid is to protect the plant when its outside, as well as incubate it whilst it grows. Sliding door.
Spout to pour water/nutrient top up solution into.
Indent to allow another pot to be stacked on the top.
Hole to open door with allowing easy access to the herbs.
How To Buy & Use Designed For Simplicity
Place in a warm dark place with the lid on to incubate the seeds and lightly spray the pot contents every day until they start to sprout. After 7 - 10 days seeds will start to sprout and then you can attach the pot to your window or put it outside.
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WHAT COMES WITH A POT? (See final product render pg 26)
Bat Guano Bat Guano is organic plant food made from bat droppings. Empty this sachet into the water reservoir.
Vermiculite This is needed to retain water and nutrients to keep the herbs healthy. Sprinkle it evenly on top of the clay pebbles then hold pot 1 and its contents under the tap for a few seconds to rinse them.
Herb Sticks
Pick two sticks of the herb types you want and place them half way into pot 1.
Clay Pebbles These are to support the herbs whilst they grow, rinse them before putting them into Pot 1.
Wick Insert the wick into the slot in pot. It will be used to feed the herbs with the nutrient solution below using capillary action.
Suckers These attach the pot to the window.
Pot 1 This pot will hold the pebbles, vermiculite and seeds.
Sucker Pin Pin pot 1, the reservoir and the suckers together.
Reservoir
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This pot will hold water and nutrient solution to feed your plant and keep it healthy. Always keep the water amount between the min and max lines.
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Method of Production & Costings Components Total per Product: £ 3.96 Tooling Total Cost: £91,922.88 Materials Total per Product: £ 5.67
Product Total Cost (excluding tooling costs): £ 9.63 (See costings report for a more detailed breakdown)
Injection Moulding
This product will be injection moulded using polypropylene. This is to allow the produce to be as cheap as possible. The material and method were chosen because through initial research (see preliminary research section) it was realised that for the product to be successful in replacing herb packets and plants it needed to be as cheap as possible.
Sustainability
When added to polypropylene, 1% of Bio Batch allows a product to be biodegraded in landfills or even on a compost. It’s not starch based, has no environmentally harmful chemicals, not affected by heat, sunlight or moisture and is food safe making it perfect to grow herbs in.
Process
Injection moulding process:
Added to make the product biodegradable.
1%
Polypropylene Properties: Semi-rigid, translucent, good chemical resistance, tough. Products its used for: Housewares, Appliances, Luggage, Toys and other “durable” items for home or garden. (British Plastic Federation)
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Conclusion
This project was intended to get people growing herbs within their homes, where ever they lived, whatever their gardening knowledge; even if they had no time to maintain the plant. By encouraging people to keep fresh herbs within their homes the project aimed to replace the ‘convenience’ of supermarket herbs with a more sustainable alternative. 95% packeted herbs brought go off before they are finished (See Questionnaires). By growing their own cut and come again herbs, this problem is 28 completely eliminate.
Whilst space and light were an issue for growing, Grow It allows the user to stick their pot to any smooth hard surface, be it windows, a cupboard board; anywhere where they think its light enough. The design also allows the pots to be joined to stand alone, or stacked with a protective lid for outdoors. Another aspect of this project was to encourage users to be more creative with their food choices when eating. By having fresh herbs to flavor their food instead of salt, they were healthier and (in Andy
Page’s case) more creative with their diet. Through User Testing over 1 month the prototype was found to be so useful that when it was returned, the user replaced the plant to be able to continue to cook creatively. The project was focused on London and in particular flats and houses with either no space or no permission to grow their own food. The design proves that you can grow food easily in even the smallest of spaces, and the final design does not only support herbs, it can grow lettuce, tomatoes or strawberries!