Plaster Pot - Design Assignment

A plant pot is used commonly throughout the world to allow people to grow their own flora at home or anywhere else without the need for a garden or land. All plant pots are typically simple cup or bowl-like pieces with a hole at the bottom to allow water to drain out typically made from plastic, ceramic, etc. In our case, we will be using plaster which is a material that is mixed with water to create a fluid that can be manipulated and then hardened into a solid shape that we can later use.

Supplies

- Card paper

- Plaster powder

- Water

- Polypropylene plastic (sheets)

- Tape

- Drill

- Apron (optional, but preferred)

- Time

Step 1: Paper Preview

the first step to making a plaster plant pot is to first imagine what you want your pot to look like. Is it modern or simple? Can it sit on a coffee table or is it big enough on the side of your couch? This is up to how you want your pot to look and act like to your or a client's satisfaction. Once that is decided, it is a good idea to materialise your vision. The most resource, time, and effort friendly way of doing that is by making a simple paper prototype. This can be made by folding it into your shape or you cutting out every face and taping each together then constructing your prototype.

Step 2: Polypropolene and Plaster

Plaster is moulded by first making it into a paste and letting it harden in a mould. This means that we have to make a mould. Luckily, our paper prototype is in the shape of a mould, having the overall shape while also possessing empty space that plaster can flow into. The only downside to this is that plaster will stick to the paper, rooting itself into the small grooves and cracks in the paper which will degrade the final product. We instead use a type of plastic called polypropylene which is much smoother on its surfaces and therefore, will simply peel off the plaster once we're done with the mould.

We redo the same process we did for the paper prototype but instead, we replace the paper with polypropylene sheets. A thing to keep in mind is to keep the tape facing the opposite side that the plaster will be poured, or in other words, don't let the tape touch the plaster. This is because if the tape does touch the plaster while it's a fluid, it will incorporate itself into the plaster and be stuck inside the plaster and ruin the product. We also need to make a core, which is what will allow for a hole in our plant pot. This is a simple shape which will move the plaster away from itself before it hardens which can also be made from polypropylene.

Step 3: Learn, Overcome

You may have to redo your product multiple times. Alot of this is guesswork and if you look close enough, you'll always find space to improve, so DO improve it until you're satisfied with the results. Simply repeat these steps until you get what you want out of the product.

Step 4: Finalize

Now that you've gotten your desired product, finish it off by drilling two or three holes at the bottom, this will serve to drain excess water from the soil to keep it from being too wet, given regular watering.

This was done with a drill but could also be done by inserting two pencils into the core, allowing for two holes to form through the product which you can use as a safer and cheaper alternative to a drill. Don't make this hole too big or too much water will drain out. Also, don't make these holes too small or your plant will drown in the water. Both of these will end up killing it or negatively affect its health and therefore growth. You could also paint on the plaster if you wish, just don't paint inside the container because then paint might contaminate the soil and negatively impact the plant once it's being used.