Bachelor of Design Double major in Industrial Design and Marketing
Student Bio
Hi, my name is Laura Will and I am studying Industrial Design and Marketing at the University of Waikato. I grew up in Pukekohe and moved to Hamilton in January 2021 as my parents bought a blueberry farm here. I enjoy spending time outside engaging in activities like wakeboarding and waterskiing, as well as going on hikes. I enjoy problem solving and functional creativity, and I hope incorporate this in my future career.
Project Description
This project is aimed at commercial blueberry farms who are growers of export quality berries, and their pickers ages 16 to 60. These farms can produce anywhere from 5 to 120 tonnes of blueberries each season, which are either processed in their own pack house or by an external packer. I chose this project as blueberries are a major part of my life. I have learnt a lot living and working on our family blueberry farm and saw a need for better equipment, both to preserve berries and save time. The current picking equipment used on our farm sees the berries being transferred at least three times between containers before it is graded. This means that the berries are being bruised and damaged once they have been picked, and reducing this would increase profits and reduce waste. The final equipment design allows for only one transfer of the berries, from the picking container straight onto the grading table. And the shallower container reduces risk of bruising while being picked.
