The anti-energy drink is a prime example of a design that would fit the parameters of two of the six slow design principles. This project consists of two glass bottles joined together in the middle to resemble an hourglass. The bottles are twisted apart to separate them into two portions. The drink that the bottle contains a “calming milkshake” made from natural ingredients. The containers’ narrow necks mean the drink takes more time to serve, hence “The package creates a pretext to stop, think and catch a moment for yourself.” This purpose embodies the first principle of “reveal”, as this slow design reveals experiences in everyday life that are often missed or forgotten, including the materials and processes that can be easily overlooked in an artifact’s existence or creation. This product causes users to reevaluate the way they rush through motions of life, including savoring a drink. The anti-energy drink creates an experience that persuades users to cherish their moments and take their time. This project also follows the second principle of slow design: “expand.” The anti-energy drink model considers the real and potential “expressions” of artifacts and environments beyond their perceived functionalities, physical attributes and lifespan. A typical container for a drink serves no other purpose than to hold its contents. This innovative design causes users to question their role in the functionality of how they interact with objects.
The careful design of the Mueller fruit basket also follows two principles of the six slow design principles. This basket is wide and shallow and has a flexible plastic body which prevents fruit from getting bruised or cut. Its woven build allows air to circulate around fruit and prevents molding, keeping produce from spoiling sooner. This project follows the third principle of “reflect,” as its design induces contemplation and what slowLab has coined ‘reflective consumption.’ Many users have come to realize that past fruit baskets have caused their fruit to become bruised and spoil quickly. Metal baskets rust and wood baskets rot fruit quickly, so this clever design has prolonged the shelf-life of their produce significantly. To add, this fruit basket’s design also follows principle five of “participate,” as its slow design encourages users to become active participants in the design process, embracing ideas of conviviality and exchange to foster social accountability and enhance communities. This product is sold on Amazon, and many have commented on the fact that this design helps preserve their produce. This encourages more and more individuals to purchase this slow design item, and in return, this helps reduces food waste overall.
I would want to engineer some sort of contraption that could sense the moisture of soil, so that when a plant is deprived of water, the object will change colors and possibly make a noise to alarm the user to water their plant. This project would follow the “reveal” principle since it reveals experiences in everyday life that are often missed or forgotten. The plant is not able to express its need as easily as a pet or other human could, and I think that this project could really open up people’s perspective. Since plants cannot express their needs and would finally be able to through this project, it could cause users to cherish their plants more than before. This project would also follow the “expand” principle, as this design considers the real and potential “expressions” of artifacts and environments beyond their perceived functionalities, physical attributes and lifespans. A pot is typically used to simply house a plant, but for it to act as a medium for the plant to speak to the user through is a more elevated functionality. This project evokes the importance and responsibility needed to ensure the health of a house plant. I was imagining that the design be a chic and simple pot design on the exterior, and the interior would have circular grooves that contain sensors that detect humidity levels in the soil. I’m imagining that there be two layers to the pot, the inner layer having the sensors to detect the moisture and the outer layer containing the light that will react to the amount of water needed (red for urgent, yellow for mild, and green for no water necessary). I would also want there to be some sort of music to play when the plant is being watered (happy, upbeat tones while the pot is green) and when it is in need of water (sad tones while the pot shines red).
