Blossoming Innovation
Inspired by her grandmother, Ashley Schultz (EDI '25) used her EDI Thesis to cultivate a solution for senior gardeners.
As Ashley Schultz (EDI '25) thought about potential topics for her Thesis project, she thought of her grandmother Diane’s passion for gardening. As her grandmother aged, it became increasingly challenging to keep up with the hobby.
“Nurturing plants has always been a core part of her identity,” said Schultz, who recently graduated from Northwestern’s Master of Science in Engineering Design Innovation (EDI) program. “I set out to design a product that would enable her to garden safely and comfortably, without sacrificing the traditional hands-on experience that brings so much joy to gardeners like her.”
That product is Sprout 'n Grow, an indoor gardening solution designed to keep the joy of nurturing plants alive for people of all ages and abilities.
Sprout 'n Grow is a modular, easy-to-install system that brings the outdoors in, eliminating the need for senior gardeners to venture outside and risk falls or the rigors of a sweltering summer. The system’s French cleat pot attachment allows users to place plants at customizable heights, making plant care more accessible and less physically demanding.
Schultz’s journey with Sprout 'n Grow was not linear. She found herself navigating between innovation and tradition, striving to honor practices cherished by veteran gardeners while incorporating modern design elements.
“Many had learned to garden from their parents at a young age and placed strong emotional value on those familiar practices,” she said. “It was important to strike a balance – designing something innovative and accessible without compromising the authenticity of the traditional gardening experience they cherished.”
The EDI program played a crucial role in shaping how Schultz approached the project.
In EDI, Schultz learned to look beyond surface-level observations and uncover the real challenges faced by her target audience. This user-centered approach guided the growth of a gardening system that truly aligned with the values, needs, and preferences of its intended customers.
“EDI taught me to approach design with empathy and patience,” Schultz said. “There’s a smart emphasis on the importance of taking the time to fully understand users through thorough research before jumping into solutions.”
The Thesis project, a cornerstone of the EDI program, provided Schultz with the autonomy and responsibility to fully immerse herself in the design process for 20 weeks. This experience not only resulted in the creation of Sprout 'n Grow but also prepared Schultz for the challenges of post-graduation design work.
As she presented her final project on graduation day, she said she felt a sense of pride and excitement. The journey from concept to prototype was challenging, but the result was a product that could potentially transform the lives of senior gardeners like her grandmother.
Sprout 'n Grow serves as an example to Schultz of the EDI program’s focus on the power of empathetic design. It's not just about bringing plants indoors, Schultz said. Rather, it's about preserving the dignity and joy of gardening for those who thought their gardening days were behind them.
“I learned how to dig deeper to uncover the real problem within a design space,” Schultz said. “This process taught me to look beyond assumptions and surface-level observations to design more meaningful, user-centered solutions.”
