CREATIVE THINKING AND PROCESS/PRODUCT AND SERVICE SPECIFICATION/DESIGN AND INNOVATION (CCM)
PROFESSORS: MIGUEL MELGAREJO, EDUARDO ALTAMIRANO, ANDREA SOLER, MARIANA SOLÍS, JOSÉ DE LA O
TOOLS FOR GENERATIVE AGRICULTURE FOR ARCA TIERRA
Project in collaboration with Arca Tierra. For this project, fourth-semester students used User-Centered Design tactics to generate tools that facilitate the practice of agriculture in Chinampa. Through secondary research and field visits, they identified opportunity areas in current processes and tools that help reduce time, improve ergonomics, and make work more pleasant.
Two prototypes were generated. A functional one that can be replicated in the immediate context of Arca Tierra, with local suppliers and artisans. The second prototype is a version that speculates if these tools were produced by industry, using industrialized processes and materials.
SEED DISPENSER
Isabel Lara, Ian Cabrera, Alexis Valdés, Regina Ochoa
Portable seed dispenser created in collaboration with Arca Tierra, a regenerative agriculture proposal located in Xochimilco.
It reduces up to 25% of the total seeding of the chapín time: a process that requires the manual placement of a seed in a one inch square space around 30,000 times. This product favors the agricultural process in chinampas by enhancing ergonomics, decreasing the workers’ strain and optimizing time.
EARTH PUNCHER
Rosalinda Maldonado, Mariana Rojas, Daniela Lamar, Illiana Cruz
Tool mainly for drilling the soil prior to transplanting vegetables with standardized spacings in multiple ways. The materials used to manufacture this tool are polypropylene, carbon steel and aluminum.
SOIL HEALER
Andrea Gutierrez, Monserrath Ceballos, Lourdes Aguilar, Brenda Padilla
The tool is produced through die-cast and plastic injection to repair the cracks generated in a seedbed. The aluminum sheet has a rib that creates strength. An additional reinforcement supports the pressure point. On the other hand, it has a lid so that it can be hinged.
SUPPORT STOOL
Sofía Reyes, Jessica Rodríguez, Ricardo Romero, Vanessa Rosas, Ximena Vieyra
Carbon steel die-cut sheet support. Designed to be placed at a distance from each other and provide greater stability to the farmer during the early stages of the planting process by reloading a long wooden base on top of them.
In this way, the worker is able to remain stable while cultivating above the ground. Likewise, the design allows it to be moved more easily.
LAND PLOTTER
Sofía Reyes, Jessica Rodríguez, Ricardo Romero, Vanessa Rosas, Ximena Vieyra
Tool created by injection blowing and plastic injection using polypropylene as the main material.
Its main functions are delimiting, squaring, marking and accurately dividing a terrain with the help of laser light and a retractable Nylon thread.
It was created for use and ease of work in agriculture, but can also be used in areas such as architecture and construction.
FORK
Alfredo Meza, Paola Espinosa, Alejandro Arellano & Nicolás Riaño
This tool allows the making of chapines thanks to its curved head which betters the user’s visibility and precision. Accomplished in materials like galvanized steel and ash wood, using processes of die cutting and plastic injection. The cutter is matched with a mud cleaner, generating a dynamic and practical work process.
