CricketNest

Sustainable System for Home Food Production

Timeline: Sep 2019 to Mar 2020

Role: Individual Concept Project

Skills: User Research, Industrial Design, Working Prototype

CricketNest is a home-based solution that enables individuals to raise crickets as a sustainable, eco-friendly protein source while addressing the growing global food crisis.

Inspired by my vegetarian background, I created CricketNest to contribute to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on food security, reducing environmental impact, and promoting zero-waste practices. Crickets offer highly valuable protein with minimal land and water usage compared to traditional livestock, which helps halt land degradation, manage water sustainably, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making it an ideal solution for the future of food production.

[ CHALLENGES ]

The primary challenge was designing an inner mechanism that catered to crickets’ different stages of growth while keeping the system user-friendly for families. Crickets have unique behaviors and needs at various life stages, which made it difficult to balance between optimal environments for the insects and ease of use for users.

[ SOLUTION ]

To address this, I created over five prototypes, testing and refining the system. The final design successfully integrates separate, optimized environments for crickets at different stages, while simplifying the maintenance process for families, ensuring usability and sustainability.

With a viewfinder, users can observe the crickets' activities and environment from outside the system.

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CricketNest is designed to integrate seamlessly into home environments, much like any essential household item, such as a refrigerator. In my design for CricketNest, I aimed to seamlessly integrate it into home spaces. I selected warm colors and wooden materials to complement home interiors.

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The design process presented challenges, particularly in refining the wooden supports and creating a user-friendly mechanism for crickets' different life stages. As a vegetarian, I hope this project inspires people to consider sustainable food systems for a healthier future planet.

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from raising crickets, to sketching, prototyping, and manufacturing

In the prototyping process, my goal was to create an easy-to-use system for users while providing an optimal environment for the crickets. I had been raising crickets for three months. I developed over five prototypes, continuously refining the design. At the same time, I focused on ensuring the proportions were aesthetically pleasing, making the product not only functional but also attractive for home spaces.

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The Small Breeding Box provides a dedicated space for crickets to lay eggs while preventing adult crickets from eating them.

CricketNest features three layers, each tailored to support crickets at different stages of their life cycle. By separating the crickets into compartments based on age, users can easily control the environment, adjusting factors like temperature and humidity to promote optimal growth. Containers within each box can be rotated, ensuring a smooth transition between stages. This well-structured design fosters a healthy, regulated habitat for the crickets, while simplifying the management process for users, making it an efficient system for home farming.

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Adjustable Partitions offer divided spaces where crickets can conceal themselves, ensuring a safer environment by preventing crickets from eating each other.

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