Menu
contact
Client
Oko
year
2025
Project
Soil Sensor
Disciplines
Industrial Design
ENGINEERING
Colour, Material, Finish
Design for Manufacture
Art Direction
ENGINEERING
Colour, Material, Finish
Design for Manufacture
Art Direction
OKO set out to redefine plant care by creating a sensor + app system that gives gardeners real-time insight into soil moisture, pH, air temperature, and humidity. The challenge was to make this technology feel seamless, approachable, and blend into the plant’s world not dominate it. Monitoring soil health without intimidation, so more people can take confident care of their plants.
INtroduction
From day one, we sought a device that feels organic rather than mechanical. We sketched and 3D-printed smooth, curved forms inspired by leaves and droplets, iterating until the object sat naturally in a pot’s rim or side. We tested attachment methods, clip and stake, so the sensor can adapt to pots of different shapes and depths. Parallel to that, we prototyped internal layouts, balancing sensor placement, electronics, and battery life so measurements would be accurate without overcomplicating the design.
organic forms
Once the core form settled, we refined interaction and usability. We added a USB-C port for charging and a 3.5 mm jack to plug the soil probe. We built multiple mockups to test waterproofing, readability, and ease of insertion into soil. Iterations focused on how users hold and view the device, how they mount it, and how they reset or reposition it.
usability
The final OKO sensor is a quiet companion to your plants. You insert the probe into soil and hook the device onto the pot; then, via Bluetooth, the app begins streaming live data on moisture, pH, temperature, and humidity. OKO surfaces insight when to water, when to relocate indoors, when the soil acidifies so the user stops guessing and starts caring.
The solution
But more than data, the design is intentional. Its organic form fits naturally among foliage, the clip and stake options let it adapt to many pot styles, and the user experience feels lightweight, minimal interface, maximum learning. With OKO, plant care becomes something you feel confident doing, the kind of tool you forget is there until it tells you something mattered.
plant care
