Project Details
Deliverables
Speculative Concept Video
A video showcasing the world that this product exists in.
Widget
Widget that gives status updates from your home screen.
Plant Pet was a project for Biodesign 330T with Professor Jiabao Li. Plant Pet tracks biometric data and syncs it in live time to correlate with an algorithm that outputs a response. The main purpose of the project was to move the agency from human to a plant by giving said plant a “voice”. We don’t forget to feed our animals because they make noise, but plants die in silence. Hopefully, Plant Pet can make humans feel a more personal connection with their plant, while also updating its’ health metrics in an interactive way.
What could the world look like if we gave plants agency?
Video showcasing the world in which this design would inhabit. Storyboard, editing, and direction by Emma Brey.
Our animals have the privilege to demand our attention, but what about our plants?
🖊️ Sketch Thought Process
🌱 Solution: Plant Pet
With Plant Pet, you can check on your house plant at any place and any time.
Plant Pet uses a series of sensors to collect data from your houseplant’s bio-emissions and responds in real time. For example, when your plant is low on water and it falls in between a low range, this can trigger the command for the plant to vocalize the line “I’m hungry I need food!” This could create another level of depth between plants and humans as we are able to be alerted of their needs and it simulates interaction in which humans are able to empathize with more and understand.
👤 Audience
Plant Pet is perfect for first time plant owners. Does your plant need more water? Have they been out in the sun too much? Is their growth rate on track? No need to worry. The plant can speak for themself and put your anxieties at ease, and by using our sensor technology, we are able to measure exactly what they need at all times, at any time.
🔑 Key Features
Overall well-being and health updates based on plant's statistics.
Overall Health
Tracks when the plant needs shade or is lacking direct sunlight.
Sunlight intake
Daily water level updates and gentle reminders.
Water level updates
Updates on how much your plant has grown throughout the week.
Plant growth tracking
Your plant has grown 1.72" this week!
LTR: Growth, overall health, sunlight intake and hydration level.
Click the widget to see the numericals.
🚶Takeaways
What world would this product live in? As designers, we should understand as much around the product as possible.
World-building for products.
How can we use digital material to make lifestyle changes?
Bridging physical and digital interaction.
By giving the plant a “voice,” I explored how UX can drive empathy and awareness in unexpected spaces.
Designing with empathy creates emotional resonance.