Redefining accessible gardening for everyone.
How can we rekindle the joy of gardening for those facing dexterity challenges?
Our answer: an all-in-one smart soil dibber, seed sower, and garden monitor that eliminates the demands of hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Type
Coursework
Role
Product Design
User/Market Research
CAD & FEA
Prototyping
Date
Jan 2022 - Jun 2022
PROBLEM
Gardening is widely known for its therapeutic and joyful benefits. But for individuals with dexterity difficulties, fine motor challenges can make even simple tasks like measuring soil, planting seeds, or watering feel frustrating or inaccessible.
We created a thoughtfully engineered tool that combines three functions into one:
🌱A smart soil dibber
🫘 A seed spreader
📊 A garden monitor
This device removes the need for precision coordination by offering easy, supported actions, bringing gardening back to those who love it, regardless of ability.
🤔 How might we make gardening accessible to people with dexterity limitations, without relying on fine motor skills or excessive physical effort?
INCLUSIVE DESIGN APPROACH
In order to design a comfortable experience for those with dexterity challenges, we explored different ergonomics through anthropometric user research that would minimise the amount of force and precision required by the user. We went back and forth the drawing board and engineering checks, to ensure that our design choices were feasible for real-life implementation.
We created a thoughtfully engineered tool that combines three functions into one:
🌱A smart soil dibber
🫘 A seed spreader
📊 A garden monitor
This device removes the need for precision coordination by offering easy, supported actions, bringing gardening back to those who love it, regardless of ability.
The following design requirements and user flow map was developed to guide the product prototyping process.
PROTOTYPING & TESTING
Our goal here was to create a fully functional electronic prototype that demonstrated both mechanical usability and the feasibility of integrating sensors and feedback systems:
🛠️ Started with low-fidelity mock-ups focusing on grip, leverage, and ease of planting.
🧪 Tested with users managing limited dexterity to understand real interaction challenges.
💡 Key insights led us to add features including a stabilized base, a push-button seed sprayer, and an compatible digital app.
The size and design choices derived from user research were integrated into a comprehensive CAD assembly model, undergoing continuous refinement alongside electronics prototyping. This iterative process ensured a seamless fit for all components and efficient cable management, as well as the best balance between sleekness, size and wall thickness/strength.
The following electronic considerations were further needed to fulfill our product requirements: microcontroller, power supply/charging, moisture sensor, OLED screen, touch sensor, haptic motors. Off-shelf components were used, however, there wasn't a moisture sensor that could fit within our cross-section, thus we prototyped our own potential divider circuit, using galvanised steel wire as electrodes. All wires and components were finally soldered, ensuring there is no excess wiring.
We conducted Finite Element Analysis (FEA) on key structural components, simulating the user's entire arm weight in a worst-case scenario. Practical soil experiments helped approximate the force on the joint, and a remote force mimicked user pressure at the handle.
The product was imagined to be under the home electronics company, LG. We chose a calm, desaturated, modern colour palette that connects their minimalistic brand image with gardening. The yellow provides a fun pop to the palette, reinforcing LG’s new visual identity. Our name, ‘Evergarden’, reflects our ethos of bringing back the joy of hobbies “for every gardener”.
© Rhea 2023 ⚡