Aug 5, 2015
AKER Call for Designers
Wanted: New Micro-Farming Kit Designs
Dear reader,
My name is Tristan, and I work with AKER — a social enterprise helping people start growing food in urban backyards, balconies and rooftops. We’re part of a fast growing movement to re-localise food production in cities.
Our project has been selected to join 100+ designers, makers, and mentors at the POC21 innovation camp in Paris. On August 15th — September 25th we will be prototyping new, innovative tools to forward the urban farming movement and citizen-led sustainability.
We're looking for designers help us create the next generation of urban farming tools.
During the camp, our team will have access to a range of high end prototyping equipment, materials, and product design mentors. Successful designer applicants will become a key part of our rapid prototyping process over the 5 weeks of the camp, and will see their designs evolve in physical form very quickly. Designers will benefit from feedback of our team and the POC21 mentors, exposure from participation in the camp, and 20% of sales profits from successfully completed designs.
What is AKER?
AKER is an open design project that develops flat-pack urban food growing kits like the ones pictured above. The kits can be either ordered from us pre-made, or downloaded and “printed” in cities around the world using an automated CNC router machine.
Our mission is to lower barriers for busy urban dwellers to grow their own organic food locally while increasing biodiversity in urban areas. Our kits are fabricated from a single sheet of 4x8 material and snap together in minutes without needing screws or glues.
Criteria for designers:
- Must be fluent with at least one CAD software package
- Must have at least 10hrs to dedicate between August 5th — Sept 25th
- Must be reliable, good on email and able to video chat with the team
- Must follow AKER design language (it’s flexible!)
- Designer receives 20% of profit for each sale of successful design
So far we have worked with a diverse team of designers from around the world (although all male) and we are looking to expand our team. It would be especially fantastic to hear from some female applicants!
Sound interesting?
Please read up a little on our website, forum and watch our crowdfunding video below to familiarise yourself with AKER. Next, please send me an email with subject “AKER Designer Application” outlining your experience, design idea (if you have one) and any questions to tristan@aker.me.
Successful applicants should be available to start working on their design asap. I will send more info about AKER design criteria to successful applicants to inform their work.
Please do not start designing until you have contacted me, although sending a preliminary sketch of your idea would be awesome. If you don’t have an idea, thats fine because we have a bunch!
