SmART PEBBLE
Helping you Connect with your plAnts
Commissioned by Elho and delivered by FROLIC Studio, this product launched in 2024.
My role: Design Research Lead
Team: Job van Dongen (Industrial Designer), Anna Kay Mastenbroek (Interaction Designer), Julie Balian (UI Illustrations)
Opportunity
Elho, a market leader in sustainable gardening products made from recycled materials, approached FROLIC Studio to explore how they could expand into the IoT space. Their goal was to create a product that aligned with their environmental values while genuinely helping people care for their plants.
RESULT
The Elho Smart Pebble was developed through an end-to-end, research-led process. I defined design principles from early insights to guide the team. The final AI-enabled IoT device uses environmental sensing to support plant care without replacing the human–plant relationship, staying true to Elho’s sustainable values.
How we got there…
The Elho Pebble was developed through a user-centred design process, with in-depth research woven into every stage. Returning to users throughout was key to delivering a product that is easy to use, inclusive of different needs and experience levels, and aligned with Elho’s sustainability values at scale.
How do humans Connect with THEIR PLants?
We began by exploring how people interact with their plants day to day. Through in-depth interviews and surveys with participants across Europe, from beginners to seasoned plant lovers, we investigated how plant care journeys begin, how emotional connections develop, and how technology currently supports or disrupts these routines.
We focused our discovery on four key themes:
Entry into learning
How do people begin their journey with plant care?Emotional bonds
What kind of feelings and attachments do people form with their plants?The role of technology
How is tech currently used in plant care, and how do people feel about it?Care and understanding
How do people build knowledge and maintain healthy plant care practices over time?
FROM Insights TO Principles
Through synthesising user research and aligning with Elho’s sustainability-driven values, we defined four core design principles. These guided decisions throughout the project, ensuring the product remained grounded in real user needs while staying true to the brand’s mission.
Icon credit : Noun project
ITERATE, TEST, REFINE, REPEAT
Prototyping and testing were central to shaping a product that feels intuitive and meaningful across a range of users.
We tested early concepts and functional prototypes with plant owners of varying experience levels, gathering insights on usability, clarity, and engagement. This included a pilot phase where participants used the Pebble in their homes, offering real-world feedback on both the physical design and app experience. These findings directly informed refinements in the product’s interaction design as well as how guidance is delivered through the app.
“‘It’s really easy and clear to set up, I felt confident using it immediately.’”
“‘The app is really clear and simple, the plant recognition feature and light reader would both be super helpful for me to know i’m giving my plant what it needs.’”
INtroducing The pebble
The Elho Smart Pebble is a simple, unobtrusive IoT device that blends naturally into indoor environments. It supports users with personalised plant-care guidance while preserving their connection to their plants. Grounded in early research and design principles, it encourages confidence-building over time, minimal disruption, and sustainable choices. The product uses recycled materials and a design that can be easily taken apart, aligning with Elho’s environmental values. The companion app offers timely, meaningful prompts that reflect real user needs, helping people engage more deeply with their plants.
Fostering the human–plant relationship over time
The Smart Pebble supports users in building stronger connections with their plants by offering gentle guidance without disrupting existing routines. It encourages hands-on care, minimises notifications, and even lets users name their plants, reinforcing emotional bonds while keeping technology quietly in the background.
Adaptable and easy to set up
The Pebble encourages users to build a lasting connection with their plants. Instead of replacing natural forms of care, it enhances them through gentle guidance and thoughtful features. By allowing users to name their plants and minimising unecessary notifications, the product fosters a more personal and meaningful interaction that evolves with time.
SUPPORTS Connection but Doesn’t REPLACE It
The Smart Pebble uses AI to enhance plant care without replacing the human connection. Features like plant recognition and adaptive care suggestions help users learn about their plants over time, while keeping interactions minimal and meaningful. Rather than automating care, the system supports users in building knowledge, confidence, and emotional connection.
