Garden “U” Trowel
Ergonomics studies
- Year
- 2025
- Section
- Object
- Keywords
- ergonomics studies · universal design · gardening
People have been gardening with hand tools for centuries. But even with so many modern versions, a lot of them still hurt your hand and wrist. So we rethought the handle — using ergonomics studies and universal design — to make gardening less tiring, more natural, and more fun for everyone.
The “U” shape lets you hook the trowel on, so your hands are free for everything else.
Design inspiration — Universal Design
Think about an umbrella handle. That curve does so much — you can hook it on almost anything, and it turns freely whichever way you move. It's playful and familiar too. A lot of us played with umbrellas as kids and turned them into all kinds of tools. Because everyone already knows the shape, you pick up the handle and just get it — nothing to learn.
The handle in 3D.
User testing with the Pratt Garden student workers — thank you all for the feedback that shaped the final design.