Canopi
Designing home grown immunity
Brief
To develop an at-home solution for growing fresh spirulina at home.
Narrative
Routine was the key. Enabling daily harvesting of the fresh superfood would maximise the benefits and made for a more intuitive user experience.
Outcome
Canopi approached Morrama to help updated the design of the Bloom device based on the results of initial testing.
After a successful Kickstarter in 2022, Canopi asked Morrama to support the design development of their first product, Bloom.
The superfood
Spirulina is a one of nature's most nourishing superfoods. It’s an algae that grows naturally in warm freshwater lakes and ponds, particularly where it can get a lot of sunlight. Consumed for centuries by indigenous peoples in both Africa and Central America, it is an extremely rich source of protein and contains B1, B2, B3, zinc, magnesium, potassium, manganese and calcium. One teaspoon has the nutritional value of several servings of common vegetables and provides a strong overall boost to the immune system.
Once dried, however, the bio-availability (what can be absorbed by the body) of these nutrients drops to just 2-3%. So, to get the benefits, it must be consumed fresh.
The challenge
Spirulina needs a delicate balance of heat and light to grow, particularly to grow fast enough for daily consumption. Working with the Canopi team we developed ad update to the design of the Bloom vessel which houses an LED array and has built in temperature control and a series of sensors to constantly monitor the growth and health of the algae.
Design
Designed to fit seamlessly into the kitchen the vessel has an elegant water pitcher form. Built to hold 1.5 litres of culture, the handle and docking features make harvesting quick and easy, whilst the window gives a real time, mesmerising, view of the spirulina as it grows.
Designed to be harvested daily, we developed a quick and simple method of extracting the fresh spirulina which needs to be drained before mixing with water or adding to a smoothie for that daily boost of protein and vitamins.
