Plant Vending Machine

TEAM PROJECT

Project Overview

Grab & Grow is a concept for a smart vending machine that sells plants, seeds, and gardening supplies. It is designed to help urban apartment dwellers overcome barriers to growing their own food and enjoying greenery in small spaces. Our goal was to combine physical convenience with digital support to make gardening easier, more accessible, and sustainable.

Our guiding question was:

“How might we reduce barriers such as fear, inexperience, or limited space to help apartment dwellers confidently start and sustain gardening by optimizing small living areas so they can grow and consume their own food at home?”

My Process and Contributions

User Research

I explored urban gardening trends, sustainability reports, and online forums to understand why people hesitate to grow plants at home. I discovered common challenges like lack of space, fear of killing plants, and uncertainty about how to care for them.

Problem Definition

Our team synthesized research insights and crafted a clear problem statement and a focused design challenge. We wanted to empower apartment dwellers to integrate gardening into their lives with confidence and ease.

Ideation

We brainstormed many solutions, from mobile apps to community gardens. The vending machine stood out as a novel way to make plants instantly accessible in high-traffic urban locations. It also allowed us to include digital touchpoints for education and ongoing care tips.

Design and Prototyping

Options to buy complete potted plants or purchase seeds and soil separately

• Clean, intuitive categories for browsing plant types

• Suggestions for where to place plants in the home

• A fast PIN pad payment flow for convenience

Iteration 1 :

Final Design:

Testing and Refinement

We tested the prototype with peers and iterated based on their feedback. We improved navigation clarity, adjusted iconography, and strengthened messages about sustainability.

Outcome

Our team delivered a high-fidelity Figma prototype showing how Grab & Grow could help urban residents start and sustain gardening in small spaces. The concept connects spontaneous plant purchases with digital support, encouraging both sustainability and personal wellbeing.