As a UX Designer specializing in software, physical product design was completely new to me. But when I faced an everyday problem with plant pots, I saw an opportunity to apply my design skills in a new way. Without any prior experience in industrial design, I decided to take on the challenge of solving this problem.
Through this project, I learned a lot about industrial design, manufacturing, material science, and 3D printing. This case study shares my journey from identifying the issue to creating a practical and functional solution.
Most plant pots have a tray underneath to collect excess water. However, I noticed a common issue: water often accumulates in the tray, leading to algae growth, mosquito breeding, and an overall unpleasant appearance. As a plant owner myself, I found the process of regularly lifting the pot to empty the tray tedious and time-consuming. This problem was not just a minor inconvenience but something I experienced frequently.
I searched online for better pot designs or maintenance solutions but found nothing effective. Realizing this was a problem worth solving, I decided to create a better solution myself.
My goal was to design a pot that makes maintenance effortless, eliminating the need to lift it every time to clean the tray. I wanted to create a solution that would be practical, simple and beautiful, saving time and effort for people like me who value plants but struggle with the upkeep.
The result was a pot with an inbuilt tray that slides forward and backward under the pot, allowing users to easily remove excess water without lifting the pot. This solution is particularly useful for older adults, plant owners with physical limitations, and busy people who don't have the time for frequent maintenance.
I used Onshape, a CAD tool, to design the pot in several iterations:
I focused purely on functionality, creating a basic design to test the sliding tray concept. At this point, material costs and other practical constraints were not yet considered.
To validate my design, I 3D printed few pots and distributed them to friends and family. They are currently using the pots, and I am tracking their usage to gather feedback on key aspects such as:
- How frequently the tray fills up.
- How often they empty the tray.
- Whether the tray ever overflows, and if so, what happens.
- How the sliding tray pot compares to a standard pot in terms of ease of use and maintenance.
The next steps in this journey will focus on refining the design based on real-world feedback. Stay tuned for more updates on how this design evolves and how I address any new challenges that arise!