Innovative products
Translucent terrace - blog
Innovative existing designs:
1:
This design decreases ocean plastic (single use plastic makes up 50% of ocean pollution). Design is interactive, allowing users to learn about seed planting with simple, easy to follow instructions. Design purposely continually changes before, during and after use. 'Circular economy meets sustainable design'. https://www.yankodesign.com/2021/02/24/this-sustainable-packaging-design-is-made-from-discarded-pineapple-leaves-that-grow-into-a-new-plant/
2:
Design purity's water using no human intervention or energy. Is a low cost solution, perfect for poorer communities who don't have access to clean, drinkable water compared to most first world countries. This give light and water to homes and costs nothing as its solar powered. Also provides these homes with a soft ambiance in living rooms, allowing families to see at night time as people in homes that would benefit having this design don't often have accessed to light either. https://www.yankodesign.com/2021/02/14/this-innovative-skylight-uses-light-from-the-sun-to-purify-drinking-water/
3:
Similar to design 2, this design converts dirty water into drinkable water. This design has a broader audience range however, as people from third world counties could use this, and people on tramps/ camps would highly benefit from it. This design also required no power, thus perfect for people who don't have access to power. Small slender size allows for easy storage and cheaper, more eco-friendly shipping.
4:
This innovatively designed mouse is perfect for users who don’t have access to hard, flat surfaces. It allows the user to easily use a mouse on their leg or couch arm and does not restrict movement as often when using a mouse on a soft, curved or fluffy surface, the mouse gets snagged and it delays and lessens user experience.
5:
This cute and fun design keeps peoples liquids warm, allowing users to no longer need to constantly worry about their drinks getting cold and not force them to drink lots at once. It is charged by USB so can easily plug into a laptop, made ideal for people who want a hot beverage while studying or working.
6:
Whacky designed mug gives the user a cool place to store cookies whilst also decreasing the amount of liquid that can be stored. As often the liquids used in mugs are hot chocolate and coffees, this decrease in liquid is better for the user as it would subtly decrease the caffeine and sugar intake. This design also restricts how many cookies the user can eat, helping again, with decreasing sugar intake. Having this little storage for cookies also means the user doesn’t need to grab a whole new plate just for the cookies, decreasing the amount of dishes necessary to do. Also helps not leave crumbs everywhere for users who you usually not bother getting a plate for cookies and would normally just place it on the table.
7:
This ingenious design solves two issues for book readers. Firstly, with this design, users have a simple, stylish, clear bookmark and as it doubles as a light, allows users to read in the dark and not need to go up and turn on the light. Also for users who share a bed, not needing to have the lights on to read a book and disrupt the person they are sharing the bed with would help their relationship. This design is also perfect for people who don’t have access to any artificial light e.g. when camping.
8:
The indoor garden allows people to access their vegetables, herbs and anything else that would normally be in the garden, without needing to leave their house. Also allows people who don’t have any backyard to still grow some of their own plants and/or if they live in a place which doesn’t get adequate sunlight for growing plants, this design solves that issue. The design uses smart technology to speed up the growing process, thus users who aren’t avid cultivators can still grow plants successfully. The only thing users need to do is plant the seed and fill/ drain the water as days go by. The indoor garden uses no dirt so the users don’t need to worry about having a dirty house. Design consists of eight LED lights that provide sunlight and energy, mineral-rich solutions, oxygen and water. There is also an app with this for users to track the plant’s progress even when away from home.
https://www.yankodesign.com/2021/02/21/this-smart-indoor-garden-uses-hydroponics-to-grow-vegetables-while-matching-your-modern-home/
I am very interested in smart sustainable designs which make users lives easier. Products which make ones life easier while still keeping a strong ascetic sense. Thus why I was looking into the designs above. From these initial concepts. Below I have developed some ideas of innovative products from these ideas, exploring ways in which I could improve these existing products.
Altered designs from above products:
~ (2 & 3) Think if there would be a way to bring this on the go e.g. a drink bottle that if you shook it, used kinetic energy and purified the water. (when walking with the bottle it would already be cleaning it as the water would jump up and down with each step.
~ (8) Could create a smaller indoor garden in this style compartment which speeds up the growing process. Can make lots of different sizes, some for avid plant growers and some for people who just want herbs. This allows users to not need to go out into the garden to get these things, as it would just always be in the kitchen. Also for people who don’t have a backyard, it allows them to still have the opportunity to grow their own things. The lights inside also speed up growth for people who don’t have as much time and dedication to wait for the plants. Also in countries where they have bad weather from growing specific plants, this solves this issue. Could also have in the larger sizes on a dirt area on the bottom where they can grow things which need to be in dirt e.g. lettuce, carrots, potatoes.
Final concept:
Make a water tank at the bottom of the garden which uses lowkey reverse osmosis to filter water so the excess water used in watering plants that aren’t necessary can be either drunk or re-used to water other plants.
Creating a growing tank using smart, modern technology which promotes plant growth and allows users to bring their garden inside. This indoor garden encourages people to be healthier, and develop a better relationship with nature. Designs gives users access to vegetables and herbs, without them needing to leave their house. Perfect for people who don’t have a backyard and/ or don't receive adequate sunlight.
What's required by user:
Planting the seed.
Fill/ drain the water once a week.
Make up:
Uses no dirt.
Eight LED lights (provide plants with sunlight and energy)
Mineral-rich solutions.
Oxygen.
Water.
Multiple shelving components (to allow variety of what is being grown)
Top shelves (smaller, more for herbs)
Bottom shelves (larger, for bigger vegetables)
Little to no adhesives will be needed as smart joints will be used.
Technology:
To make the growing tank, connect an Arduino a soil moisture reader, humidity reader and something to control the lights. Also make there an automatic watering system, as plants thrive best on scheduled watering and people are unreliable.
Can water plants with green tea to give the plant proper nutrients. Must be applied properly or else could damage the plant. Seaweed fertilizer is similar to green tea.
Around design there will be hacks at how to increase growth of specific plants e.g. Chop up banana peels, then bury them in the soil when you plant tomatoes, rose bushes, or green pepper plants. The potash and phosphorus content in the peels will enrich the soil and strengthen your plants.
A strong dose of compost tea can do wonders to improve the vibrancy of your plants. If you already have a compost pile, there's a benefit to taking the time to brew it into a liquid solution bursting with beneficial microorganisms.
What makes club soda more nutritious for plants than tap water? Carbonated water contains macronutrients, including carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and sodium, all of which are beneficial for your greenery. For proof, look no further than the University of Colorado Boulder, where researchers watered a group of plants with club soda for 10 days; in the end, the club soda plants outgrew the control group. The trick, for those trying this at home, is to let the fizzy water go flat before pouring it on your plants.
Old coffee grounds have many uses around the house, but they're particularly effective as plant boosters, thanks to their calcium, potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus content. Because coffee grounds acidify soil, acid-loving plants like rose bushes, evergreens, and azaleas benefit most from a treatment. Scatter fresh grounds lightly at the base of your plant or add them to the compost pile, where they will mix with other food scraps and leaves to create a rich soil.
Because of their rich calcium content, eggshells should be tossed in your garden, not in your trash bin. Rinse them, crush them, and add them to plants like tomatoes that are often plagued by calcium deficiency. Or, start seedlings in eggshells that have been carefully halved and rinsed. When the seedlings are big enough to be transplanted, plant them right in the ground, shell and all; the shell will biodegrade over time.
Used tea leaves contain the three nutrients you need for a good fertilizer: nitrogen, potash, and calcium. Sprinkle them at the base of your plant for a budget-friendly boost of nutrients.
Adding a thin layer of grass clippings to your vegetable garden can prevent weed growth and help plants retain moisture. Apply no more than one-quarter inch of grass mulch; adding too much could inhibit water from passing through. Grass clippings that are full of weed seeds should be composted rather than applied directly to your garden—the heat from a properly maintained compost pile will kill the weed seeds.
When taken together, a few simple household ingredients can offer big benefits to plants at a fraction of the cost of commercial fertilizers. Epsom salts, baking soda, and household ammonia can be combined to create a fertilizer that helps plants maintain healthy foliage and stimulates growth.
Materials investigation:
Bamboo. One of the best eco-friendly building materials on the planet. Has a quick self-generation speed, some species grow up to three feet in 24 hours. Bamboo has a high strength-to-weight ratio and exceptional durability, having an even greater compressive strength than brick or concrete. Bamboo is a viable choice for flooring and cabinetry, among other furniture things. As a lightweight material, bamboo is less energy intensive to transport than many other materials of comparable durability. A drawback is it requires treatment to resist insects and rot, untreated bamboo has a starch that insects like, and it can swell and crack when it absorbs water. Adding this chemical treatment results in recycling the material at the end of life more difficult, however doesn’t affect the possibility of re-using the material at the product.
Recycled or repurposed wood or metal. Aluminum and steel are high embodied energy materials due to the energy required to produce them, e.g. mining the ore, heating and shaping products, transporting a relatively heavy material. Each time the metal is properly and efficiently reused or recycled into new products, its embodied energy lowers and makes the material more sustainable because raw aluminum isn’t being extracted. Using repurposed/ recycled materials eliminates the raw extraction and processing side of things, which in turn, eliminates a lot of the environmental footprint. Recycled metal is a long-lasting material that does not need frequent replacement. It tends not to burn or warp, making it a viable option for roofing, structural supports and building façades. It's also water and pest resistant. Reclaimed wood works good as a structural framing, flooring, siding and cabinetry. Density varies by the type of wood (hard and soft wood) and some stand up better over time. However, most wood is susceptible to insects and degradation, reinforcing the need to thoroughly inspect each reclaimed piece.
Wool. Unlike commonly used fiberglass insulation or polyurethane spray foam, sheep’s wool is all natural. The material doesn't degrade nearly as quickly as other natural insulation materials, like straw. Compared with some natural insulators like cotton, sheep’s wool is more prevalent, regenerates faster, can be harvested more easily, and doesn’t require lots of water to ‘grow’. One drawback is sheep's wool isn't always the most affordable insulator.
Mycelium. Works as an amazing insulator whilst being one of the quickest growing materials. Is all natural as it is a fungus based material, doesn’t require much water and is safer and healthier than its competitors.
Transparent wood. New technology has created a way to successfully have transparent wood, giving off the same visual aesthetic as clear plastic. Benefits of using transparent wood are this material still contains the same insulating effect of wood, whilst also having a better environmental footprint, being more lightweight than glass and plastic which results in a lower amount of energy being used in transportation. Dr. Liangbing Hu founded this material by simply boiling any type of wood in a bath of chemicals which strips away any lignin (what gives the wood color). Then adds a layer of epoxy to the block which encases and protects the wood from external environmental impacts.
Material usage:
Using bamboo or recycled wood as the primary material (e.g. framing, base, top, walls) for the glass house would work best as aesthetically, this look suits many different environments and creates a calming, naturalistic vibe to rooms. Environmentally also the best options as it has the smallest environmental impact compared to many other materials who hold the same strong structure and durability. Use wool or mycelium as insulation for the plants to promote and speed up plant growth. Is the most environmentally friendly material to use for insulation as wool and mycelium are natural materials. Using transparent wood in place of glass/ plastic that was originally added. The use of this material instead was to ensure the smallest environmental impact was created and give the design a more naturalistic aesthetic.
Consciously using the materials talked about above reduced the environmental impact of my product. Doing such doesn’t just benefit the environment, but also provides an edge against competing similar products as in this day and age, having a small environmental footprint is highly praised upon.
Technology:
Using a Arduino Uno, bread board, moisture detector, resistor, LED, and some wires I have created a system which displays when moisture is detected, for a led light to switch off. This led represents the spraying of water. Whenever there is a particular level of moisture in the soil, water will be sprayed to ensure the plants always have the perfect water content for growing.
Using this Arduino also allows users to customize what water levels work best as different plants require different amount of liquids.
To make the growing tank, connect an Arduino a soil moisture reader, humidity reader and something to control the lights. Also make there an automatic watering system, as plants thrive best on scheduled watering and people are unreliable.
Physical idea designs:
