BeeBox
In the last decade, honeybees have been dying at unprecedented rates. A phenomenon known as "Colony Collapse Disorder" is on the rise, and has been known to decimate entire apiaries - wiping out thousands of these pollinators at once. Despite the crucial role bees play in our ecosystem, many people still don't know much about them, or understand how human activity is contributing to their deaths.
My goal going into this project was to "save the bees" by creating a hive that encouraged beekeeping among people who would not previously have had the time, money, or knowledge for this hobby. As I learned more about the issues facing honeybees, I adjusted my approach, but ended up creating a product that accomplished the same goal.
;)
;)
Research
Although Colony Collapse Disorder is still not fully understood, there are four widely acknowledged factors involved: climate change, varroa mites, neonicotinoids (pesticides), and poor diets caused by habitat loss. As I read about habitat loss, I realized that simply giving bees a hive would not be effective - in a pristine suburban neighborhood full of monocultured, pesticide-filled lawns, a colony could never thrive. In order to be healthy, bees need a diverse supply of wildflowers that bloom throughout the year, and no pesticides. With this in mind, I began brainstorming solutions that would encourage cultivation of healthier environments for bees, rather than just somewhere for them to live.
;)
Personas
The art of beekeeping hasn't changed much in the past century, and neither has the classic Langstroth beehive - the hive of choice for any professional or serious hobbyist. Therefore, my chosen target market was the beekeeping novice: someone young, a Millennial, who had never considered beekeeping as a hobby before. To the average Millennial, a beehive is not an obvious purchase: this demographic is unlikely to have the time, the knowledge, or the money to engage in "traditional" beekeeping. However, Millennials are more likely to care about the environment than previous generations, and often make purchasing decisions based on the perceived societal good of a product or company. With the right product and marketing, beekeeping could become a cool, trendy hobby with a positive societal impact.
As I began ideating, I considered solutions to make the beekeeping process seem "easy". An all-in-one kit; something you could buy at Home Depot and set up in twenty minutes. Rather than a giant, bulky hive with multiple parts, give consumers a smaller hive, containing all the frames and other various parts that they'll need, at a lower price point, with clear instructions on how to begin beekeeping. Additionally, I came up with the idea of including seed packets in this kit, so that users can plant their own bee-friendly gardens to keep their hives healthy.
;)
Ideation
As I began ideating, I was drawn to non-traditional forms and colors - something that would make beekeeping seem fun and approachable. I envisioned something that would encourage education and learning (in a school garden or nature center), as well as something highly Instagram-able (to target Millennials). Functionally, it needed to be easy to operate, and have clear touch points that indicated safe interaction zones.
One recent, unexpected innovation in the beekeeping world has been the introduction of the Flow Hive, which allows honey to be collected with the turn of a crank. The inner mechanisms separate the frames containing the honey, and allow the honey to flow out without disrupting the bees' activity. However, despite its popularity, the Flow Hive is still not "beginner-friendly", and its size and cost make it impractical for many hobbyists. For the purposes of this project, I designed my hive to incorporate this technology in a smaller, less expensive, more beginner-friendly exterior.
;)
;)
;)
;)
Prototyping
When constructing a physical model of my design, I used primarily plywood, with 3D-printed plastic touch points. I spoke with the coordinator for Georgia Tech's Urban Honeybee Project and learned that, in her experience, bees tend to avoid plastic structures and go straight for wooden ones. Assuming that this is a common tendency among bees, plastic is a great choice for the elements of the design that will be used exclusively by humans. The joints are all mitered to create a seamless look, and the legs are detachable so that they can fit inside the hive for storage.
;)
;)
Final Product
The final Bee Box kit includes 8 standard frames with wax foundations, 1 built-in Flow frame (from which the user can obtain fresh honey), 9 seed packets that span every season, 2 guidebooks (beginner and advanced), protective gear, and, of course, the hive itself. The walls of the hive will be infused with lemongrass essential oils, in the hopes of attracting bees naturally - however, in many cases, users will have to order their own colony of bees, as there is no guarantee that any bees will move in on their own. There will be a connected service for installing bees, so that it is easy and simple for users.
;)