Sprout: Plant Moisture Sensor
Fall 2024: Two-week design sprint
Skills: CAD, Laser Cutting, Electronics
Motivation + User Research
Our houseplants were dying prematurely due to inconsistent care. I developed a moisture sensor system that monitors soil hydration and signals when watering is needed. Preliminary tests showed improved watering consistency and plant vitality.
My Role: CAD design + rendering · 3D printing · Laser-cut wooden box
User Insights:
Pain Point: Busy students often forget or delay watering, which can lead to plant stress and early death.
User Persona: College-aged renters who care about aesthetics but want low-maintenance solutions.
Design Goal: Create a product that was both technically effective and visually appealing—something that looked like part of the plant, not a gadget.
Ideation + Prototyping
Inspired by Nature
Drawing inspiration from plant forms, I designed Sprout to blend seamlessly into its environment—an insight reinforced by user interviews showing that décor is a top priority for college-aged plant owners.
Shape Exploration
I explored two main design directions: a minimal cylinder and an organic bean-sprout form. The final design combined the simplicity of the cylinder with the playful “sprout” shape, striking a balance between manufacturability and natural inspiration.
3D Printed Prototypes
To quickly test branching angles, proportions, and ergonomics, I produced multiple 3D-printed iterations. These low-fidelity prototypes allowed me to evaluate form and fit in physical space, guiding decisions before moving into refined CAD models and higher-fidelity builds.
Building
I prototyped Sprout by 3D printing the plant-inspired body and clear cap, designing and laser cutting a wooden housing for the electronics, and assisting my teammate with soldering the circuitry to bring the system to life.
