OVERVIEW
项目概述
Background项目概述
设计背景
Due to high accommodation costs, young people are forced to live in small apartments without balconies. Micro-housing has become a trend in city life, and residents are seeking ways to connect with nature in limited spaces. At the same time, interest in indoor plants is growing, providing physical and mental benefits.
由于住房成本高昂，年轻人被迫居住在没有阳台的小型公寓中。微型住房成为了城市生活的趋势，而居民们正在寻找能在有限空间中融入自然的解决方案。同时，人们对室内绿植的兴趣持续增长，为其提供了身心健康的好处。
问题陈述
High accommodation costs and limited space prevent young people from interacting with nature, especially in apartments without balconies. This lifestyle creates a need for micro-home designs and plant cultivation among young residents.
高昂的住宿成本和有限的空间使得年轻人缺乏与自然互动的机会，尤其是在没有阳台的公寓中。这种生活方式引发了年轻人对微型家居设计和绿植培育的需求。
GROVE offers an innovative way of micro-planting, which not only includes a few uniquely designed furniture pieces but also builds a platform for houseplant enthusiasts to share their ideas on plant arrangements with furniture. Through blog posts and seasonal plant services, Grove keeps engaging users and encourages them to participate in its ecosystem. Furthermore, GROVE introduces a new business model to promote repeated furniture purchases.
GROVE 提供了一种创新的微型种植方式，不仅包括几件独特设计的家具，还构建了一个平台，供绿植爱好者分享他们与家具搭配的种植创意。通过博客文章和季节性植物服务，GROVE 能够持续吸引用户的兴趣，并鼓励他们参与 GROVE 生态系统。此外，GROVE 还通过一个新商业模式促进家具的重复消费。
2019年12月
Project Info项目信息 Social Innovation Design ( Exchange Course Project at Chiba University, Japan)
社会创新设计（在日本千叶大学的交换生课程作业）
Tools工具 Rhino, Keyshot, Sketch and Adobe Illustration
1.
DISCOVER & DEFINE
「Identify user needs and define design goals.」探索与定义 「识别用户需求并确认设计目标。」
User Research Insights
用户调研洞察
Attitude to the Balcony / 关于阳台：
Many respondents mentioned that balconies are usually not practical or only used for drying clothes. Without a balcony, they prefer converting that space into an indoor area.许多受访者表示，阳台通常不具实用性，或仅用于晾晒衣物。在没有阳台的情况下，他们更倾向于将阳台空间改造成室内区域。
Attitude to Plants / 关于植物：
Growing indoor plants gives users a sense of relaxation and joy, especially for busy young people. It offers them a chance to connect with nature. However, some are concerned about plants taking up too much space in small apartments.种植室内植物让用户感到轻松和愉悦，特别是对忙碌的年轻人来说，养植物提供了与自然互动的机会。然而，部分人担心植物在小空间中占用过多空间。
About the Home / 关于家居：
Young people prefer flexible home styles, desiring more movable and multifunctional furniture to optimise limited living spaces.年轻人更喜欢灵活的家居风格，希望拥有更多可移动和多功能的家具来优化有限的生活空间。
2.
DESIGN & DEVELOP
「Generate solutions, create and test prototypes.」设计与发展 「构思解决方案，制作并测试原型。」
Brainstorm & Mind Map
头脑风暴与思维导图
Brainstorm / 头脑风暴：
By exploring the challenges faced by young people living in small apartments, especially without balconies and lacking a connection with nature, the project direction was identified. Key insights include: people living in small apartments desire a small piece of nature, and houseplants fulfil this need while providing physical and mental benefits.
通过探讨当前居住在小型公寓中的年轻人面临的挑战，特别是没有阳台和缺乏与自然的联系，确定了项目的主要方向。关键洞察包括：居住在小公寓的人们渴望拥有一片小小的自然空间，绿植可以满足这种需要，同时提供身心健康的好处。
Mind Map / 思维导图:
The mind map helped clarify how to deepen the relationship between people and plants through design. Key focus areas include: 1) Improving the watering experience; 2) Shortening the emotional distance between people and plants; and 3) Enhancing space utilisation through combining furniture with plants.思维导图帮助明确了如何通过设计来加深人与植物之间的关系。主要关注点包括：1) 改善浇水体验，2) 缩短人与植物之间的距离感，3) 通过结合家具和植物来提高空间利用率。
情绪板
The mood board showcases the visual direction of the design, inspired by the natural flow of water, soft Morandi colours, light oak, and organic materials like linen. Through these elements, the design aims to convey a blend of nature and modernity, creating a cosy living environment where furniture and plants coexist harmoniously.
情绪板展示了设计的视觉方向，灵感来源于自然流动的水流、柔和的莫兰迪色调、轻质橡木和麻布等有机材料。通过这些元素，设计旨在传达一种自然与现代的融合，让家具和植物共同构成舒适的居家环境。
概念发展
GROVE provides a new way for young people living in small apartments to interact with nature by seamlessly integrating furniture with houseplants. The project explores industrial design to incorporate planting areas into furniture, allowing users to experience the benefits of greenery and nature even in compact living spaces.
GROVE 通过将家具和绿植有机结合，为居住在小型公寓的年轻人提供了一种与自然互动的全新方式。项目通过工业设计探索，将种植区融入家具中，使用户在有限的居住空间内也能体验自然的氛围和绿植的好处。
Prototyping and CMF Design
原型与材质设计
I created low-fidelity prototypes to visually represent the product’s form and structure. Natural materials such as linen, white oak, and steel were selected to ensure durability and aesthetic appeal. A water management system was also designed to help users efficiently water and care for their plants.
我制作了低保真模型，以更直观地展示产品的形态和结构。选择自然质感的材质如亚麻、白橡木和钢，以确保家具的耐用性和视觉效果。同时，设计了水流机制，方便用户轻松浇灌和管理植物。
3.
DELIVER & REFINE
「Finalise the solution and refine design details.」交付与优化 「 确定最终方案并优化设计细节。」
Design Rendering
设计渲染
The GROVE furniture series includes floor lamps, sofas, cabinets, and coffee tables, seamlessly integrating houseplants into the furniture design. This creates a cosy natural ambience while enhancing the aesthetics and functionality of the living space.
GROVE系列家具包括落地灯、沙发、储物柜和咖啡桌等，将绿植巧妙融入家具设计中，为用户提供舒适的自然氛围，提升居住空间的美观与功能性。
Digital Interface Design
数字界面设计
The digital design for GROVE’s mobile and website interface offers personalised plant selection, inspiration exploration, and customisation services. It helps users choose suitable plants for their furniture styles and view product details and purchasing options through interactive tags.
GROVE的移动端和网站设计提供了个性化的植物选择、灵感探索和定制服务，帮助用户根据家具风格挑选适合的植物，并通过产品标签轻松查看细节和购买信息。