UI/UX Designer
Garden Trowel Redesign
Redesigning the common garden trowel for someone who suffers from Arthritis.
Product Design
User Research
Prototyping
Garden Trowel Redesign is a project that focuses on creating for a specific target audience: those who suffer from Arthritis. By creating a product with the intent of enhancing the lives of those who enjoy gardening but are unable to do so without pain.
BACKGROUND
This was an individual project, where I was to go through the whole design process in the span of 2 months. From research to ideation to model making to user testing to final product. I spent most of my time in this project user testing and researching in order to fully understand and empathize with my end user. Trying to create with them rather than for them.
SKILLS
ROLE
IDEATION SKETCHING, ADOBE SUITE
USER INTERVIEW, RESEARCH
PROTOTYPING: FOAM, CLAY, FABRIC
PRODUCT DESIGNER
TIME SPAN
OCTOBER 2018-NOVEMBER 2018
Gardening is a leisure activity many of us enjoy especially those of us who are elderly and have more time for leisure activity. However, gardening tools also require a lot of joint movement and endurance that a lot of elderly people simply cannot do without the risk of pain. Holding a grip for too long and heavy tools that cause a lot of stress on the body can be a nuisance and ruin an activity that is suppose to be enjoyable.
MISSION STATEMENT
USER/MARKET RESEARCH
I began by interviewing and researching intensively about Arthritis and those who suffered from the disease. Then looking into existing products within a similar market and how they have succeeded or failed in their designs. Taking from my research and interviews I created several user personas and journey maps. You can click on the image to see full size
Throughout this whole process, I made sure to go back to the research portion of the project to refocus on the goal and missions of this project and allow that to inform my designs
FURTHER RESEARCH
IDEATION SKETCHES
PROTOTYPING
After several rounds of ideation and research, I began to prototype sketch models. Since my idea was based on arm support from walkers I created a couple foam models with a long base for support as the main feature. After user testing I played around with the idea of a strap to secure the arm in place.
FINAL MODEL
In the end, the product's main feature was a long and thin base that supported the forearm and wrist and allowed for the user to reproduce the digging motion for a longer period of time. The round grip was for an easier firmer grasp that required minimal pressure on your joints. And the strap is used to secure the arm in place.
