This garden hand tool-“Leaft” is a redesign of not quite a spade or a trowel but an in between of the two, attaining many of their qualities such as completing small tasks in the yard or smaller areas, these include pot planting, strawberries, and bulbs and seeds, as well as working with sand and mulch.
The organic look of the shape also adds that leaf- like feel (hence the name: Leaft), the roundness as well as the pointed tip provides the motion to dig and scrap with. As the head transcends to a narrower look it is ideal for digging in between borders and plants that cannot be disturbed. The bulb grip at the end is designed higher than the head to block off the soil and dirt from the user’s hand, it is also able to hold/move some soil if needed. Other features include the indented groves of finger markings to indicate to the user that it is suitable for both right and left handed people and providing a more powerful grip and control as it is easy to hold including the sideways movement. It could also be used by gripping onto the tool with both hands facing the head towards the user for a more powerful use.
The colours chosen are symbolic of the everyday gardening tools that already exists, the green indicates the natural environment, the black was used on the head to represent the earth and for a more sleeker look as the shape is quite curved and the bright orange adds that extra bit of colour to add the playfulness of the tool making it seem more enjoyable to use than the ordinary garden tool and is easily visible in the garden. Also it indicates where your fingers are placed whilst gardening as well as how it complements the green and black.
The materials used are an ergonomic moulded synthetic for the handle of polypropylene and, strong light-weight shafts of fibre glass and Nyglass. Nyglass is a new fibreglass/nylon composite; scratch and weather resistant being virtually unbreakable. Whereas the tool head is made from carbon steel with the sleek satin black finish, which reduces the amount of dirt that is left on the head while working when compared to the heads that have a polished finish. Carbon steel garden tools usually feel lighter which benefits the gardener as it does not weigh them down. The grip that is seen on the top and bottom of this tool provides the comfortable hold and leaving the users’ hand in place.
I quite enjoyed holding your model. The colour scheme reflects on existing garden tools (green and orange) which help to indicate how to hold the tool with help from the grooves on the underside. Your model overall was a very pleasing and different from the normal garden tool, making it very inviting to try and use.
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