When I was in my second year of college, I was assigned with creating a garden tool range aimed at the urban gardener demographic for FISKARS, the tool manufacturing company that produces both manual and automated gardening tools.
When doing this, he first task that I had to undertake was to research this demographic to see how my tool range can appeal to potential consumers.In order to create a tool range that could truly help the urban gardener, I had to research the different environment that people cultivate in within an urban premises, and how they enable ergonomic comfort
In addition, I also researched various garden tool ranges sold at Bunnings Warehouse so that I could better understand how garden tools can help offer efficient and effective performance but also ensure user friendly and ergonomic comfort with ease simultaneously. During this research, I found that many garden tool ranges offer feature on their handles to help users cultivate with greater ease and to, therefore, raise the appeal of each tool.
Following this research, I then created 100 thumbnail sketches of potential design ideas for the garden tool range. When doing this, I made sure to consider the form of each and every tool so that it will not only be aesthetically pleasing but will also possess features of ergonomic comfort so that the garden tool range will encourage user friendliness. When creating each thumbnail for each tool, I have considered features of ergonomic comfort by reflecting on the research that I have taken during the brainstorming of this project, and thought of ways in which each tool could encourage ergonomic comfort. In addition, i have also considered feature of modern and biomorphic design, and how colour could help raise the appeal of each tool, thus giving the range a competitive edge while relating back to the subject of gardening.
As can be seen in the range that I have developed for final idea for this project, I have incorporated a form for each and every tool where the fork and trowel have a wide heads in order to drag and scoop up large amounts of dirt, and the head of the prick tool having a smaller head that allows for easy penetration of the soil when used. In addition, for all of them, the back of the tool is always smaller and narrower at the back in comparison to the front in order to conform the the grip of the human hand and, thus, ensure a firm hold as well as ergonomic comfort.
