Terrain Dibber

Designed for gardeners with rheumatoid arthritis, this ergonomic garden dibber combines functionality with sustainability. Its ash wood head and biomaterial handle provide durability, while the multi-grip options ensure ease of use for individuals with limited hand mobility. Perfect for planting seeds and bulbs with precision, it’s a user-friendly tool crafted with natural materials and an intuitive design for accessibility and comfort.

A person in a navy blue sweater using a small gardening hoe to dig in a garden bed with dry leaves, twigs, and soil, with plants in the background.

01 Research

i. User Research

ii. Market Research

iii. Ergonomic Research

A garden dibber lying on dry grass and green weeds, with text overlay indicating a project titled 'Dibber Redesign Project' by Sofia Ruiz for DP1 Fall 2024.

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02 Twenty-Six Low-Fidelity Models

03 Medium-Fidelity Models

Utilizing extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam, clay, duct tape, and tin foil to model the most popular designs among guest critics.

Person holding a white, textured, circular object with a cone-shaped extension hanging down, against a plain, light gray background.

A person holding a foam sculpture in a horizontal position against a plain light gray background.

04 User Testing & Feedback

User testing from hand models, one with rheumatoid arthritis who gave invaluable feedback about how pressure could be applied to different shapes of dibbers.

Person holding a white, foam sculpture of a tool, wearing black gloves, a grey sweater, and an orange scarf, with other foam sculptures on a white table.

A person with orange painted nails pressing an object wrapped in aluminum foil onto a wooden surface, with lockers in the background.

Person wearing protective gloves holding a makeshift garden dibber made of rolled aluminum foil with a clay handle, in a room with red lockers in the background.

A woman sitting on a chair, using an industrial blender to mix and grind something in a white bucket in a workshop or studio, with shelves of supplies and materials in the background.

A woodworking lathe with a partially carved wooden piece mounted on it, surrounded by wood shavings in a woodworking shop.

05 Final Model Fabrication

Material Formation: Gathering sawdust and leaves to blend into a biomaterial with wood glue, water, paper pulp, and paper mache.

Dibber Head: Turn ash on the lathe, marking out a 1-inch depth guide

Dibber Handle: Hand form handle with tinfoil base, sanded when dried, and finishing oil as a sealant

Technical drawing of a garden tool called an Angled Dibber, showing top, front, side, and bottom views with measurements in inches.

Technical drawing of a garden tool called an angled dibber, showing front view with measurements and exploded view of internal components.