The classic experiment of placing a bean in cotton with water to watch it grow. With a cute twist.
Boomsi comes from imagining other possible futures in food equity and sustainability through play. It’s one of many ways to envision a future where more adults are educated to operate in a system that supports sustainability—not just ecological, but also economic, food-related, and emotional. Boomsi was presented in the Food Design Festival 2024, Madrid Spain. It was part of the Fusion Lab segment, space that combines elements of innovation, gastronomy, technology and art to offer an immersive and diverse experience.
Permaculture =
"permanent" + "agriculture".
Working (playing) with nature, not against it.
Boomsi is a small hydroponic greenhouse that teaches children about natural water cycles and plant growth, designed to be used mostly by children at home, say in the city, where there is little contact with soil. Boomsi stems from my childhood fascination with growth and nature, aiming to teach children about sustainability through design.
Boomsi is transparent. That is to help know when it is in ideal conditions to grow, and gives you an idea of when to change it to a warmer or cooler place.
Once the plant has grow enough it is ready to be carefully transplanted: the attached booklet explains how. A new seed will be willing to grow! :)
Boomsi is a simple toy with a complex purpose: it is a smiling greenhouse to learn permaculture basics.
Boomsi has evolved along with my growth as a designer and has been nourished by my experiences and reflections as a human who eats. (This experiment started as a drawing on a page eight years ago and is still ongoing.)
"It takes a village to raise a child." —African Proverb
The future is not written and depends on our ability to imagine and design new systems that help us thrive in balance with the world around us.Design is not just to solve practical problems; it’s to inspire, tell stories, and project possible futures. That’s where the real magic of what we do as designers lies.
