I am a keen gardener, so I wanted to do something around thatMore specifically, I have lots of books, but they’re not directly related to what’s in my garden. So, how can information and recommended action be tailored to me with the minimum of effort, to help me be a better gardener and my plants flourish? For example using a smartphone I could scan a QR code or barcode on a plant label to get enhanced information, or create a maintenance calendar and get easy access to troubleshooting advice. A working title for this is ‘tend’.

Find out how people go about choosing and caring for their plantsWhat’s good and difficult about the processCan what they say shape and inform a solution? What else can I uncover?

20 questions pared back to the five recommended by Justin Wilcox*. The most important, opening request being to ‘tell me about the last time you bought some plants…’3 x telephone interviews with friends of friends, then 2 x face to face in a garden centre

Interviews > note taking > post its > affinity > personas

Two personas emerged from affinity mapping which are almost polar opposites. I think there is a middle ground persona – that of the curious noviceAt least one similar app already exists (http://www.joyofplants.com/index.php). Further research will be done to see what else is out there and if there are any features / functions that could be improved or added to. For the purposes of this project, the fact that it ‘has already been done’ is not an issue

* http://customerdevlabs.com/2013/11/05/how-i-interview-customers/

Original list of questions

Post its and affinity mapping

Interview notes

experimenter visual pragmatic

A self confessed plantaholic, for Mary, heaven would be a large garden and all day to spend in it. Now the children have moved out this is more of a reality. She’s learned a lot by trial and error, uses a reference book to help make sure she doesn’t waste money, and checks the labels when browsing. She plants using her own compost, waters in well and keeps the care label for as long as possible. She dreams and researches before going to the garden centre but will buy on impulse if she sees something striking. Mary is also a keen water colour artist and she feels that the two passions feed off each other. She has a spring and summer maintenance regime and makes notes on the fridge to remind her of specific jobs that need doing – even in the following year.

AGEOCCUPATIONLOCATIONSTATUS

54Communications MgrMidlandsMarried with two children, empty nest

Motivations Loves gardening and having people round to admire the garden Plant colour, texture and shape are of interest as are practical considerations of finding the right plant for the conditionsBeen gardening for many years and getting better at it over time. Is always reading articles and making plans and notes

Goals Wants good quality plants at a reasonable priceDoes a lot of research and wants to increase and share knowledge. Has written to newspaper gardening columnist asking for advice about what to do with a border, and asks knowledgeable friends for guidanceLikes to get new ideas when visiting the garden centre and will buy on impulse. Will give ‘casualty corner’ plants a go

Frustrations Biggest frustration is soil and garden conditions which limits the choice of plantsWhilst confident thinks that gardening knowledge could be better and worries about spending too much on plants that might not livePlant labels have silly symbols and aren’t consistent with the level of info they provide.

The gardener within

Free time spent gardening

Gardening skillLow High

Importance of plant qualityLow High

Price consciousNot at all A lot

Read about gardeningNot at all A lot

image iStock http://www.istockphoto.com/photo/woman-buying-plants-in-garden-centre-24089045

Simon has just left his job and started training to become a teacher. Now there’s only one income coming in he’s going to have to watch spending very carefully. The company car has gone so he’ll have to rely on friends to get him to B&Q, that’s if he will be spending any money on plants at all in the next 12 months! The outside space is really important for his daughter and her friends to play in, and for barbecues which he really enjoys. He doesn’t mind if the garden isn’t pristine – he can cut the grass and that makes it look OK. He’s picked up some gardening knowledge from his mum and for him that’s enough to get by. She visits frequently and she helps when plants aren’t doing well. Once they’re in the ground, he might get round to watering them if it hasn’t rained.

AGEOCCUPATIONLOCATIONSTATUS

41Mature studentLondonMarried with one young daughter

Motivations Likes the garden for entertaining and for his child to play inFeels responsible for plants in the short term and follows the care label when plantingWaters plants when it’s dry. If it’s raining, does nothing

Goals Wants plants that can look after themselves as has poor plant knowledgeKeep time and effort spent gardening to a minimum and accepts that plants may dieNot interested in gardening and hasn’t looked at a gardening book or websiteWants healthy looking plants at a good price, and flower colour is a factor too

Frustrations Finding quality, affordable plants price takes a lot of shopping aroundDedicated garden centres are too expensiveDoes not trust buying plants online even if they might be cheaper as not convinced plants delivered will be as good as in the picture

busy reluctant cautious

The gardener within

Free time spent gardening

Read about gardeningNot at all A lot

Price consciousNot at all A lot

Importance of plant qualityLow High

Gardening skillLow High

image iStock http://www.istockphoto.com/photo/father-and-son-watching-television-24382723