my ideas began with my like and dislikes, for example, I don’t like waste but I do like gardening.
from this I thought about infusing paper with seeds, that the user could plant after use, to reduce the waste that paper would usually create, as it is usually a one-time-use, disposable product. After speaking with my tutors I was given the idea of creating a home garden kit that would enable those in dwellings without garden space to grow their own.
while doing research into whether or not a similar product exists, I found a fairy house building kit and images of people creating miniature gardens with decor and furniture within large plant pots in their own gardens, this lead me to think about the actual experience of designing and maintaining a garden and the satisfaction one gets from starting, styling, growing and maintaining their own mini garden, equipped with small garden furniture and decor that the consumer can personalize and tailor to their own taste.
Within the pack would be condensed, dehydrated, soil (once water is added it would expand). Some stones/ pebbles (that resemble stone paths or stepping stones) that the consumer could lay out in whatever order they want, this would also ensure that each kit would be unique to each individual, instructions with seeds within it and possibly some small furniture pieces to start the buyer off in their garden.
I started a plan on a prototype deciding the shape, lid and inside. While trying out different shapes I noticed that creating a connected lid would cause a hindrance when sitting upright and would just create more waste if it was removable, therefore I chose to make the lid out of a thick version of the recycled, seed infused paper, with the instructions on it. the box itself is made from wood as I thought it was a better material than cardboard as when it gets wet it will dissolve and fall apart.
first prototype; cardboard
second prototype; wood
presentation: