Industrial - Bachelors
Ergo Flora is an ergonomic tool designed to reduce the chances of RSI and other musculoskeletal injuries by alleviating the strain, stress, and excessive motion placed on the hands, wrists, and elbows of florists during the process of cleaning flower stems
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and other musculoskeletal injuries have remained an overlooked, widespread concern within the floristry industry for an extended period. This issue not only hampers the efficiency of florists in their professional endeavours but also significantly impacts their physical well-being, thereby affecting their overall quality of life. To thoroughly investigate and address this issue, I undertook a multifaceted research approach, encompassing an extensive academic literature review, structured surveys, and in-depth interviews and observations. This methodology aimed to unravel the underlying causes and potential solutions to this issue, ultimately seeking to enhance their occupational health and performance.
The literature review consists of extensive research on repetitive strain injury (RSI), especially focusing on compressive neuropathies (type 1 RSI) including carpel tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuritis, and radial tunnel syndrome. Other injuries such as lateral epicondylitis were also researched.
It was found that floristry was an occupation lacking in research in this area, hence the gap was filled by identifying parallels from related industries and activities that involve similar repetitive movements.
The three main prevention strategies suggested were:
• Reduce repetitive movements where possible, or take breaks in between.
• Reduce limbs being in unnatural positions for long periods of time repetitively.
• Using more ergonomic tools, equipment, and workstations.
To support the research conducted above, the triangulation technique was employed for quantitative and qualitative research to gain insights from the industry experts themselves, utilising surveys, interviews, and observations. From the comprehensive analysis conducted, it was evident that the utmost concern demanding exploration lies within the flower preparation process, with a specific focus on addressing the pain and discomfort experienced in the hand and fingers.
To view the full research report, please click on the link below.
From the research conducted, I generated 5 diverse potential design opportunities to help reduce the chances of injury for florists within the stem stripping and cleaning process.
I chose to move forward with and further develop the handheld tools because florists need to maintain a certain amount of control over the stems which machines are unable to achieve, and may also be quite expensive for small local florists.
To view my full design development record of the whole process, please click on the link below.
Ergo Flora is designed to provide invaluable assistance to florists by offering an alternative to conventional florist knives and scissors with an emphasis on both enhanced efficiency and user-friendliness. With the predominant demographic in the florist industry being women, the design approach places a strong emphasis on aesthetics, featuring a rounded and streamlined form that resonates with the preferences of this target demographic. Moreover, Ergo Flora is available in a range of carefully curated colour choices to seamlessly integrate into the diverse and vibrant floral environments in which it is used, further enhancing its visual appeal and functionality within the profession.
Crystal is a self-driven industrial designer whose commitment to creating innovative designs is complemented by a strong desire to make a positive impact and assist others. She is also passionate and skilled in graphics and UX design.