To be able to prevent the problems with shipping plant biotopes in this design, Pikaplant’s other biotope was analysed. The main reason for problems during shipment are loose soil messing up the interior of the biotope and the plants dying from a lack of light. These needed to be remedied in this design. The product should also fit in and be a continuation of the Pikaplant product line, which is why their current designs were closely studied.

Starting with a brainstorm session, concepts were developed for products as well as for the shipping infrastructure. All product ideas used some way to contain the soil with some sort of opening for the plant to emerge, while innovating what a biotope product can be. The light problems were addressed in some of the first ideas, but the shipping solutions assumed a product with no light incorporated. The different shipping solutions used a packaging that were opened up of included a light source, at both a single product and bulk level. This resulted in three concepts. The plateau concept was chosen to continue development on with a packaging including a light source.

Having chosen the Plateau concept, there were still many possibilities for the construction of this shape and its packaging. Many constructions were explored, and in the end the choice was made for a design based on its ease of production and assembly, its better looks and its solid construction. Using this construction, a packaging was designed to fit multiple products which includes a light source that can be returned to Pikaplant easily after the package arrives at its recipient. A prototype product and packaging were made of the final design.