Shroomies
University project – 13 weeks, individual project – 2023
Teaching children about an appreciation for nature, patience, persistence and how accessible urban farming can be through growing mushrooms at home.
Shroomies is a mushroom growth kit for children between 3-8 years old
The aim of this project is to create a product that inspires children to start being interested in urban farming that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Something that could be the start of a more sustainable generation. This project creates guidelines and lay the groundwork for a concept that can be developed further.
My research consisted of researching different growth kits, similar activities for children and learning important principles for designing for children. I also grew my own mushrooms through an existing growth kit to get a better understanding of the process. My visual research consisted of looking at the design of similar products, illustration styles that would fit my concept and an unlikely hero: Cereal packaging.
Development
Moving on to development, I started working with typography and illustration to start creating a visual language for the product.
Packaging & interactive elements
During my research, I found that most of the existing competition had very similar packaging designs. Therefore, I wanted to design packaging that would stand out using a colourful, bold and uncomplicated design. While looking at cereal packaging, I got the idea of having a box shaped like a mushroom, with a compartment in the top that could fit the spray bottle and other elements.
In my key insights, I found that I needed easy access to information and instructions as well as some interactive elements that keep engagement up. I decided that this would take place in a handbook and an app rather than on the packaging. Because of this, I had the opportunity to create very minimalistic packaging that helps send a message of an accessible and uncomplicated product. The left side features the name of the mushroom in the kit, the front is where the mushrooms grow and the right side features a large QR code that takes you to the app to start the experience.
The handbook and spray bottle live in the openable top section together with 3 pencils and 5 crayons.
The interactive handbook is a journal and a guide for the experience. It comes with a pencil and crayons and features an interactive watering checklist that helps keep engagement and mushroom recipes. I imagine the handbook can feature more activities and fun stuff to keep the users engaged
The app features FAQs, fun facts and an instructional video for getting started. It also serves as a reminder to water the kit and a motivator through notifications with a custom sound.
Click here to see how notifications from the app would look and sound.
Packaging render
Packaging render: Top compartment with interactive elements
Packaging render
Handbook – Cover
Handbook – Recipe
Handbook – Watering checklist activity
App – Fun fact
App – Tips & Tricks / FAQs
App – Instructions
Instructional video
During my experience of growing mushrooms, I found that instructions were hard to come by during my experience with growth kits. Shroomies is meant to be the first kit for my users so it was important the product had clear instructions throughout.
The animation I made includes the 3 first steps and serves as a guide for how the animation would look if it was fully animated. The design of the animation is made to look as simplified as possible. This means that it sacrifices looking playful for being understandable and easy to follow.
The music in this piece is meant to guide you calmly through the process.
Click here to see the demonstration of the instructional video.
Concept showcase video
Lastly, I made an animation that showcases the concept as a whole.
This animation can be used as an ad or a promo, but can also work as an introduction to the concept for potential investors or a landing page for a website. The main goal of this video is to convey the concept in an enticing way and communicate the message and values of the product. It should also pique the interest of the viewer, leaving them wanting to know more. This is done through a fast-paced motion piece with a call to action at the end. The animation also serves as an animation guide for Shroomies’ motion identity going forward.