ovo
Compact countertop growing system for microgreens, herbs, and salad greens · with integrated lighting and irrigation.
PROJECT CONTEXT
Bachelor’s thesis — independent project following an internship at agrilution Systems GmbH (indoor farming)
DURATION
Oct 2018 – Feb 2019
ROLE
Industrial Designer (solo)
TOOLS & METHODS
Industrial Design
UX Research
CAD
Prototyping
Product Visualisation
Usability Testing
Fusion 360
Keyshot
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Arduino IDE
PROBLEM DEFINITION & SOLUTION IDEA
The question of how we can provide ourselves with nutritious, sustainable and independent food in the future was the starting point for the development of ovo.
Out of a personal interest in plant cultivation and indoor farming, a reduced, modular grow system for urban living spaces was created as part of this bachelor's thesis. Space-saving, suitable for everyday use and reduced to the essentials.
A previous internship at agrilution Systems GmbH provided insights into complex indoor farming systems such as the ‘Plantcube’. The experience gained there was incorporated into the basic design considerations.
However, ovo pursues an independent, deliberately reduced approach with a lower entry barrier for future users.
PROCESS & PROTOTYPING
In the early design phase, various hydroponic methods were analysed for their suitability in a small format, with a focus on water consumption, space requirements, maintenance requirements and energy efficiency.
The aim was to create a system that requires as little maintenance as possible and at the same time offers optimal growing conditions.
At the same time, different substrates were tested, whether biodegradable or recyclate-based. The focus was on moisture distribution, air permeability and low algae formation. This was supplemented by findings from plant research into the light requirements, nutrient demands and cycle lengths of microgreens, lettuces and herbs.
Based on these principles, initial sketches, digital models and simple prototypes made of cardboard, plastic and 3D printing were created and used to test the dimensions, feel and interaction on a real scale.
OVERVIEW OF THE FINAL CONCEPT
How can optimum growing conditions be realised in a system that is compact, low-maintenance and intuitive to operate?
ovo combines carefully selected materials, such as ABS on the inside, aluminium on the outside and acrylic glass in the visible area, to create a durable, recyclable design. The system is stackable and grows with the needs of its users, from a single unit to a vertical farming unit. The result is an effortless grow-it-yourself experience.
As an introduction to indoor gardening, ovo offers a free choice of seeds, affordable substrate mats and low operating and consumption values. The energy requirement is only 15W (approx. €0.05/day) and water consumption is between 0.5 and 2 litres per cycle, depending on the plant type. Compared to conventionally cultivated supermarket goods, which are often transported over many kilometres, this is very efficient and conserves resources.
Microgreens (2 weeks): 50–60 g for approx. €0,74
Lettuce (3-4 weeks): 70–90 g for approx. €1,49
Herbs (4-5 weeks): 60–70 g for approx. €1,86
INTUITIVE CONTROL VIA PUSH BUTTON
3 GROWTH CYCLES FOR DIFFERENT PLANTS
AUTOMATIC WICK IRRIGATION
WATER LEVEL INDICATOR FOR EASY CONTROL
ENGRAVING LINE AS HARVEST INDICATOR
MAGNETIC CLOSURE FOR QUICK ACCESS
FULL-SPECTRUM LEDs FOR OPTIMUM GROWTH
AIR CIRCULATION THROUGH AIR RECIRCULATION SYSTEM
POWER CONNECTION VIA MAGNETIC CONTACTS
FLEXIBLE EXPANSION WITH MINIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENTS
COMPACT SIZE FOR MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY
LOGO & NAME CONCEPT
The word mark ovo is short, memorable and symbolic. The name stands for a protective growing environment, similar to an incubator, but for microgreens, lettuces and herbs.
The three letters reflect the growth cycle:
"o" as a seed → "v" as a seedling → "o" slightly thicker, as the plant ready for harvest.