Athos Argue
Little Gardener
This project was the second in a three-part series of timekeeping devices designed for a studio course. We were tasked with creating a timekeeping device that is one-time use and contains no fire or liquid.
My process began by asking how a one-time-use product could be made responsibly.
The final product was a biodegradable scarecrow that changes color when it is time to water your plant.
Material Experimentation
I wanted a material that was moldable, water-soluble, and not just compostable, but actually good for plants. I chose to start with an agar-based bioplastic foam recipe from the Material Kitchen, mixing in nutrient-rich materials like dry leaves.
At first, the bioplastic shrank dramatically as it dried, but with some adjustment to the proportions of the recipe and a much higher agar content, it was able to hold its form.
Final
The Little Gardener is made from a composite of plant food, water-soluble bioplastics, and photochromic ink. When placed in the ground near the roots of a plant, the sun will start to change the doll’s color. Once it becomes very bright, the user knows it is time to water their plant. The water that sustains the plant also washes away the outermost layer of the Little Gardener, resetting its color and feeding the plant. Eventually, it will be whittled away to nothing, having completed its life's work of helping its plant grow.
AI-assisted degradation renderings