iPlant Flower Pot by Arvin Maleki

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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

AM : The origin of this idea is given from the Ozon layer. Growing plants' difficulties in home and office by untrained or without agricultural knowledge peoples was our concern to design an intelligent flower pot. Taking care of plants will help humans to have a more delicate environment, better and fresher weather, more oxygen, healthier psychological atmosphere, but not everyone could do it. iPlant is a combination of artificial intelligence and an agricultural information base device that helps humans to care for plants in the best possible status.

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

AM : iPlant is going to help people care plants without any specialized knowledge, helping to keep plants in top condition and maximize their longevity.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

AM : We are going to produce it. We design to make my idea real.

DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

AM : 8 months.

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

AM : This concept is an innovative idea. We have always been interested in combining new technologies with aesthetic concepts and creating usable products that are tailored to the needs of the users.

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

AM : We are going to sell or lease the production rights. We prefer to design and create newer ideas.

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

AM : An innovative water supply embedded system in iPlant guaranties plants life long for a month. A new intelligent irrigation system is used to provide the necessary water for roots. This solution is an approach for water consumption concerns. Also, smart sensors could check soil nutrients composition, moisture level, and other soil and plant health factors and, according to plant type, compares them with standard level and then send notifications to the iPlant mobile application. There is a smart status light ring around the pot that indicate flower status and work as a visual notifier.

DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?

AM : Many flower pots are designed in the world, but the iPlant is the result of my idea.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

AM : iPlant is a product for all people.

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

AM : Embedded sensors in this pot could be configured to check the plant and soil status according to different kinds of plants. Besides, a new irrigation system is invented, this plant pot that irrigates plant from the root that is a new approach.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

AM : iPlant is given from two worlds: intelligent and Plant in which bring to mind the concept of the smart plant.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

AM : We have used many tools to design this product: manual sketching and 3D design and rendering tools.

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

AM : Combining aesthetics in product appearance with technology and considering the user's needs. These are the essential features of this design.

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

AM : We designed this product as a team. Many types of research are done to develop this product.

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

AM : I have to say; technology is the heart of the iPlant. We designed it on the base of artificial intelligence.

DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

AM : This product is designed based on digital technologies.

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

AM : Implementing a sophisticated concept and blending it with some technology in a feasible manner was the most challenging stage.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

AM : As A`design is a very prestigious competition, we decide to submit our design.

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

AM : As more harder, as more try; as more try, as more joy.

DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

AM : Thanks for this great opportunity.