While on my visit to powerscourt at the weekend, I decided it would be a good idea to investigate the garden centre. My reasoning behind it was to understand what type of 'lifestyle' products are being sold to the market. Like an movement gardening has definitely become popular in the younger couples as well those who are retired, the hobby is certainly being picked up by a variety of ages, you only have to take a visit to the Skerries Allotment to see it in person.
So where am I going with this? As a hobby gardening has become bit of a lifestyle movement, and with that comes bigger better garden centres that sell more than just your seeds and gardening tools. At the powercourt garden centre there was so many gadgets and accesories you could buy that would make you're gardening experience better if not easier. But it also sold homely goods, plush cushions that had delicate illustrations of petals and vines using a natural colour pallet. You could buy incense and gorgeous holders that mimicked Japanese oriental style.
On top of that, out the back in the pot section, there was a collection of pots designed that were really interesting for me and my project. The series of pots Flora, Forge, and The British, all had their own inspiration drawn from nature.
It reminded me that sometimes, the simple design solution is the strongest when you have solid research and a story behind the design.
REFLECTION/CONSIDER:
This made think about my target market and who am I designing for.
A desire to be in tune with nature definitely exists, and I already know that our connection as beings with nature is at an all time low, but I don't want to be focusing on the people who already garden or own an allotment, it will be the demographic who don't have the time to pick up gardening as a hobby nor can they find the time to escape the stresses and struggles of working in a technology driven culture.
