Generative Plant Pot Set

Role Intruiged by the capabilities of generative design, I set out to discover its practical applications in the home.

Project Generative Plant Pot Set 2022

Product Objective: Discover a practical application of generative design I noticed the prevelance of houseplants in the 20-30 year old SF tech scene. Plant pots are aesthetic-based objects.

What value can Generative Design add to the design of a pot?

Market Looking at the 20 - 30 year old SF ‘techie’ market, I found where my plant pot could fit into the problem space.

Unique Aesthetic

As an aesthetic-based object, beyond it’s function of holding a plant, it was important to me that the plant pot adds character to the space it’s in.

Novel Functionality

To justify a slightly higher price due to the cost of resin 3d printing, I aimed to add a simple yet unique functionality benefit to this plant pot.

Competitive

Market research indicated medium sized plant pots that are more than a basic liner sell for $15 - $30.

Design Exploration

Identifying the constraints Simplifying a pot to it’s core physical elements allowed me to set the foundation of the form generation. The minimal structure was a top ring and bottom ring around a plastic inner piece.

Form Generation I experiemented with varying arrangements of constraints (red) to produce a wide variety of form generations.

Stimulating Aesthetic I guided the Generative Design system to create organic-looking gaps in the walls of the plant pot so the dirt is visible.

Lattice Experimentation I explored applying a geometric lattice pattern to one of the generated pots to push the aesthetic a bit further into the future.

Feedback I presented different forms to a varierty of people to discover the balance between too intricate and a form that looks intruiging.

A Second Form Enjoying the new aesthetic element in my living room, I challenged myself to create another plant pot within the same aesthetic family.

Novel Functionality To hold the dirt inside the plant pot, I used an off-the-shelf clear plant liner. This allows for people to easily swap plants between different pots.

Interchangeable I found it is a common practice of switching plants and pots on occasion to change the feel of the room.

Final Outcomes • Everyday use in homes and home offices. • A product that is ready to sell.