No soil?

I've settled down with the idea of the little green kit. It's quite scary, considering I only have one month left til the presentation. I need to quickly make experimental trials, model, refine and then prototype more.

I've listed down the components of the design idea, and what I need to do for each:

a). Package itself / Vessel:
- explorations with forms to find a way to make package BECOMES the vessel
- material: explore suitability and availability of any bio-degradable materials

b). Greenery:
- seeds ("somehow" can be included in the package as an idea of a gift)
- locate local sources to test trial suitable types of plants to present

c). Growing medium:
- can't give the users soil: it's too freaking heavy!
- what can I use to replace soil? consultation with techs!

d). Instructions:
- This will have to wait til the package design is finalized

Thinking.. outside the box

EVENTHOUGH, I try very hard not to fall into the trap of making a planter design.. when I looked at my sketches, it still only provides a space, volume, and place to put plants into. I want to stay away from making a conventional planter design.

So, let's try thinking about how to integrate interactions, and a sense of ritual engagement into my design.






I like the idea of "little green kit"
it's like presenting the user with a package that allows them to grow the plants immediately, conveniently, and easily. I think it would work even better if the package itself can become the vessel that displays the greens.

little green kit Idea Development

Making a little green kit, I will need:

1. materials that can hold water, BUT can also be self-assembled (or flat packed) by users.

2. greenery, so people can actually engage in the process of growing greenery

3. growing medium, to allow users to interact with it without any other materials they have to acquire additionally

4. instructions, on how to use it, how to assemble it, and the idea behind the product


I want to integrate materials that are bio-degradable so the design can communicate the theme WITH the medium itself. Since the topic is so closely related to nature, and our environment, I want to be able to relate to that using not only the form of design, texture, material choice, as well as any other sensual impacts.

Sketching Time!

Doodling most of the time.. but these are some of the concept examples I came up with, based on all the possible ways / locations the design can fit into users' life styles.

Establishing Design Methods

In order to address my topic with design methods, I try to come up with different ways I can tackle the issue.


1. Irony / Satire - contradicting common perceptions of gardening
(ie. high maintenance, hippy. challenging, time consuming, etc.)

2. Humour - where can you see GREEN in your space that will make you think?

3. Senses - Stimulate sensual impacts using sense of touch, smell, vision, etc.

All these approaches are valid and effective if use appropriately. The directions I choose will determine how I will approach the problem, and come up with a visual form.

Criteria Breakdown

After finishing with design brief, I started a series of literary explorations, using words and descriptions to define what I want to achieve with my design. These descriptive criteria and detailed factors are mainly based on information gathered throughout my research process. Such as what people prefer to have, how they prefer to use the products, where it may be used, and what would it be for.

I try to provide a visual reference, something that would portray the concept of these factors.

Design Brief

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been compiling the research results from different methods of research to put together the Design Brief. I'm still trying to define more specifically regarding some of the project criteria. Time's ticking fast though, a lot of work still ahead. I need to narrow down my focus ASAP, to get into the design phase.

The Design Brief can be viewed HERE.
Changes and additional info might be added as the project progresses.