Please look at this, much appreciated.

[ForTheWin]

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and I would like to seek some guidance with regards a project I am undertaking for my final year at College/Sixth Form.

I don't think that I chose the correct area to start this thread but I figured that there would be a lot of traffic in this section.

I would like to welcome all comments and thoughts for things for me to try and incorporate in my project. The project that I am undertaking is to design and build a "Portable Storage Device / Workstation," for my Grandma's garden. I would very much appreciate any thoughts on what to include e.g. a seat or handle which can also be used to hold a bag open.

This is something like I wish to make:

in advance and I look forward to your suggestions.

[David Hare-Scott]

All I could see was a very small image of a portable barbeque or maybe a kitchen sink on wheels. "Portable Storage Device / Workstation, for my Grandma's garden" is not much context. Unless you say (a) what it is supposed to do in more detail and (b) show a better view of it I would not be in any position to say if the design was good or not. I couldn't see any bag and unless I knew what purpose a bag might serve I have no idea if holding it open would be good.

David

[ForTheWin]

Okay so perhaps not the best first post in the world but I'll have another go.

The image itself is of a potting workstation which can be connected to a mains water supply to wash down pots or clean tools. (THIS IS NOT MY PRODUCT, THIS IS AN EXISTING PORODUCT ON THE MARKET!)

(a) what it is supposed to do - As the name suggests a portable storage device, it is supposed to be able to hold all the tools my grandma will need when she is gardening be it in the back or front garden, it is supposed to hold all her tools and equipment etc...

(b) show a better view of it - As it is not made yet, I am unable to show you it I should start designing soon so I will be able to post some pictures of my sketches/drawings soon.

With regards the "bag," I was mearly trying to prompt your brains into thinking about whether or not that would be a good thing to have, so when my grandma is gardening, she can put all her rubbish in a bag which is already open, so that she doensn't have to wrestle with the wind to open it.

Thank you David for your reply, hope this helps.

If anyone has any suggestions on what they would want this product to have if they were buying it, then please do no hesitate to comment.

Thanks again, ForTheWin

[David Hare-Scott]

I have some problems with the concept.

- To do potting you need; pots, media, plants or seeds, tools and water. How much of this are you intending to cart around? In some cases the media has been made (or delivered) in bulk and is not conveniently movable. Smart gardeners walk to the heavy and bulk materials and work there - they don't carry them about in order to work with them. Smarter gardeners dump the media next to the work area.

- How strong is Grandma? Some grandmas (and non-grandmas) will be happier selecting one or two tools out of the potting shed and taking them where they need to be used rather than shlepping the lot around with them, including the kitchen sink, regardless of which are needed on the day. A good setup would have the workspace near all the materials it needs including tools. Typically if working away from that workspace one puts the tools in the wheelbarrow which you are going to use because often you need the wheelbarrow too.

I would hope that with your drawings you will be able to explain why and when a portable setup is advantageous to a fixed one, not just how your design has more bells and whistles than the others. Extra features mean extra cost and weight.

It depends if the rubbish is compostable and how and where the bag might be emptied.

You are welcome. If I seem negative don't take it personally, reality can be very negative, if you are going to do design there is no point in pretending otherwise.

David

[Dav]

five gallon pail works me & I can use it as a stool. Dav

[ForTheWin]

Thanks David for your reply, upon reflection I am going to try and rethink on the whole workstation where all tools are portable. I have thought about what you said and like you say, clever gardeners don't lug all their equipment everywhere. I am going to try and design something on the lines of this product :

Still at the designing stage so I am still welcoming all opinions, anything may help even if you think that it might be insignificant.

Thanks again David.