Skills
Conceptual Design
Design Thinking
Design Research
Project Management
UX/UI Design
Graphic Design
Software
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Rhino3D
Keyshot
Google Slides
Deliverables
IoT Based Solution
Mock Retail Website
Biology White Paper
Completed
May 2020
Ideating in the problem space of "save the bees," I worked on an interdisciplinary team to conceptualize the Wi-Hive, an Internet of Things enabled beehive designed for the novice backyard beekeeper. By targeting the backyard beekeeper, and using app-integrated sensors to provide support that lowers the barriers to entry, the Wi-Hive boosts honeybee populations by enabling beekeeping as a hobby for a wider consumer market.
Challenge
What does "save the bees" mean? Our research showed that bees are dying at alarming rates, for a variety of reasons. However, the primary threat to bees is the Varroa Mite. Accidentally introduced to North America in the late 1980s, treatment and management of the mite has significantly the challenges of beekeeping, so much that now 80% of beekeepers experience colony collapse disorder in the first year.
Approach
Our research showed a significant portion of the honeybee population is kept by backyard beekeepers. We decided to target their experience, and found the hive to be the element where we could affect the most change.
Concepting
We decided to "think outside of the box," creating a hive that doubled as a sculptural backyard piece to increase desirability.
Result
The Wi-Hive is integrated with sensors that track temperature humidity weight and feed levels that trigger an automatic pump refill.
A beginner's hive, with a single super to be added upon as the colony grows.
Using Adobe XD, I created a fully functional prototype of the Wi-Hive app.
The app displays data from the sensors, as well as interpreting the input to provide suggestions for appropriate courses of action. It offers the ability to schedule care reminder notifications, as well as providing explicit, holistic knowledge on beekeeping, including links to resources and online forums. Optionally, the user can choose to enable their location to let Wi-Hive connect them to local beekeeping groups.
Final Presentation
Presented over Zoom, May 2020
