Somos
Basic information
Project Title
Category
Project Description
Somos is a tool to understand nature’s balance and learn to perceive plants in a different way. It's a product-service system concept in which one of the main touchpoint is an alternative pot for plants which allows you to create a new type of relationship with your plants by rethinking the interaction you have with them. The tool is designed for understanding when plants need to be watered through a balancing mechanism based on the weight of the plant and on the one of a counterweight.
Geographical Scope
Project Region
Urban or rural issues
Physical or other transformations
EU Programme or fund
Which funds
Description of the project
Summary
Somos is product-service system concept involving different stakeholders and touchpoint. One of the main tangible elements is an alternative pot to the traditional ones used for growing plants indoors at home, which allows you to create a new type of interaction with the plant. Through simple daily gestures, the object stimulates an initial reflection on the human perception of plants and on the relationship with them, in order to rediscover them as living beings capable of communicating and perceiving the world around them.
This reflection is further enriched by the services offered together with the product, thanks to the collaboration and the partnerships with local Italian and European associations, producers and projects close to the environment and the natural world, supported by the user through the purchase of Somos. In fact, we imagined ourself as a start-up called Han (Human as Nature), with some core values, such as responsibility, by encouraging people to take responsibility for their everyday activities and interactions with plants. Another core point in which we believe is that respecting the rights and dignity of plants through everyday concrete actions can lead to the change in human perception of the relationship they have with plants. Finally we are open to gathering knowledge from what plants can teach us and see it as part of transition to seeing plants as living beings, rethinking about our relation with them. In fact mutual cooperation between humans and plants is at the heart of our mission.
For all of the reason above or aim with Somos is to give plants a symbolic voice, allowing them to let us know when they need attention and care. In particular, the pot is designed to understand when plants need attention and watering, through a balancing mechanism based on the weight of the plant and a counterweight.
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Key objectives for sustainability
With our product-service system concept we design new ways of living with nature, recognizing and promoting its rights and learning to communicate with it on a daily basis. Starting from plants we can learn a new way of looking at nature, perceiving it as something we are part of and changing our point of view about the environment that surrounds us. For this reason while envisioning our PSS proposal we focus on the importance of sustainability and circularity and we imagine ourself as a start-up that acts as a mediator between companies producing eco-friendly materials and associations that promote initiatives, projects and activities related to sustainability.
We believe that one of the most effective ways to sustain the realization of a more environmentally sustainable future is to support environmental organizations. We’ve grouped them into three different categories - the local communal gardens, associations and initiative projects. By buying our product customers support one of our environmental partners. They do something good for themselves, nature and the ecosystem.
Regarding the production partnership, we have suppliers of recycled materials, manufacturers for the construction of the product’s components and plant suppliers, which are produced by local shared gardens. In addition, during the ideation process, we decided to minimize the parts in order to reduce at the minimum the impact of the production and the material that is needed. We therefore decided to use Plywood because is an environmentally sustainable material. PEFC and FSC certificates guarantee that the wood raw material is from sustainably managed forests with legal logging operations. In addition, plywood manufacturing consumes less energy compared to others because the waste part can be reused making the lifecycle longer.
Finally we designed a circular system characterized by a long-lasting product that could be reused over time with new plants, bought from the local gardens we cooperate
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
In terms of aesthetics, Somos concept aims at providing the idea of the balance of nature in order to enhance the perception of the state of harmony, or equilibrium, between nature and human beings. The visual elements of the concept are presented in a minimalistic, friendly and respectful way – thus, the visual representation of the concept embodies the values we cherish and aim to convey to people focusing on respect and responsibility towards plants. The principles of the aesthetic design of the concept consider the impact on the ecological footprint and the visual choices are made with respect for the environment and sustainable development.
Regarding the quality of experience, we create direct contact between plants and users by giving the latter the opportunity to change their habits and visions towards plants on a daily basis. We provide the perceptual and direct experience with the objective to make an impact on the human mind and perception of nature as well as draw attention to the issues related to the ecosystem and the importance of recognizing the rights of nature in particular focusing on the giving voice to the plants. In this context, Somos concept is exemplary in terms of how the act of rethinking the relationship between people and nature and changing the perception towards plants can be naturally achieved through routine actions involving thoughtful care of plants and a greater focus on the deeper meaning behind the functional part of the object.
Key objectives for inclusion
For of our PSS proposal in terms of inclusion and participation, we have thought about a close involvement of different stakeholders, including both public participation of associations, shared local gardens and individual citizens who want to actively participate in change, in a more sustainable perspective.
In fact, our main objective is to relate local producers of sustainable materials, environmental associations and active people.
Another key aspect we took into account during the design process is the involvement and participation of "more than human" actors. Through their participation and inclusion in fact it is possible to perceive and collaborate with other identities to those we are used to. In this way, through direct involvement, it is possible to influence and change the perception that human beings have of nature and especially of plants.
In terms of active involvement of citizens, our proposal is not limited to a simple purchase of a product, but encourages active participation in activities such as talks, workshops, and conferences held by our start-up together with our partner associations. For this reason, we propose a series of educational initiatives open to everyone, where everybody can participate and discuss with plant experts, botanists or other key figures.
Also of great importance is the role that the users of our PSS play indirectly. In fact, during the design process we took into account important aspects such as the accessibility of the product to everyone, as we thought about different distribution channels ranging from the events themselves to an online shop. In addition, we tried to keep a few components in order to keep the sale price as low as possible, and we guaranteed that part of the proceeds of each transaction would go to support our environmental partners.
Physical or other transformations
Innovative character
The concept we proposed was developed taking into account all three dimensions mentioned above, so that they can integrate and merge with each other. In fact, during the design process, great importance was given to the quality of the experience for the user and the various players involved, focusing on the principles of sustainability and circularity with regard not only to the product but to the entire service that surrounds it. From the very first moment, the idea to design a universal product-service system with a strong impact in terms of citizen engagement and social inclusion was clear and one of our goal. Our approach can be considered exemplary in this context so far as by placing plants, their vital importance and the perception that humans have of them at the centre of the entire project, we proposed a product-service system that would be able to involve numerous stakeholders in terms of ethical and sustainable production, participation and collaboration with environmental associations citizens themselves. All this, while keeping the object itself, "Somos", simple, intuitive, accessible to all and easy to use, as well as with an aesthetic design that is visually clear and simple, that strongly considers environmental impact as was guided by choices made with respect for the environment and sustainable development. For all the reasons mentioned above, our proposal does not only have an impact at the level of sustainability, but aims to spread an educational message and transmit values in line with those proposed by the European Union for sustainable development, with the aim of stimulating certain feelings within people, inviting them to a critical and conscious reflection, and as an ultimate goal, to reconnect with nature, changing the perspective in favour of it.
