Equilibrium

by Emily Eide

Project Description

Humans have an intrinsic affiliation with nature known as biophilia (Wilson, 1993), and there are many studies which demonstrate the benefits of exposure to natural and natural-resembling (biomimetic) elements on cognitive and emotional health. Biophilic design has many applications in workplace design, however many existing designs lack a sense of stewardship and active responsibility over the living objects. Equilibrium is a system of desk-integrated products including a planter box, watering can and lamp which catalyse active stewardship for a plant. The integration of a soil moisture sensor and the lamp’s corresponding programmed LED light encourages upkeep of the plant’s welfare in order to maintain the desk ecosystem’s equilibrium. If the plant’s soil moisture is unsatisfactory, the lamp will not reach full brightness indicating the need to water the plant. The design promotes active interaction and care which has been proven to reduce stress (Lee et al., 2015).

Bio

I am an enthusiastic Product Designer who designs at the intersection of sustainability and user-centric practice. I am committed to designing ethically and sustainably in a modern world, crafting meaningful artefacts which optimise user experience while minimising environmental impact. With particular interests in furniture, homewares and product packaging, I excel in ideation, prototyping & user testing. I believe that as designers we have a unique agency to realise the futures that we can imagine; and that it is our empathy for those around us which should drive the artefacts we create. My additional studies in transdisciplinary Creative Intelligence & Innovation have reframed my perception of the world as a complex system in which I am both creator and consumer, my responsibility to care for the environment bridging across these roles.

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