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What is a prototype?
A prototype is a preliminary model of something. Projects that offer physical products need to show backers documentation of a working prototype. This gallery features photos, videos, and other visual documentation that will give backers a sense of what’s been accomplished so far and what’s left to do. Though the development process can vary for each project, these are the stages we typically see:
Proof of Concept
Explorations that test ideas and functionality.
Functional Prototype
Demonstrates the functionality of the final product, but looks different.
Appearance Prototype
Looks like the final product, but is not functional.
Design Prototype
Appearance and function match the final product, but is made with different manufacturing methods.
Production Prototype
Appearance, function, and manufacturing methods match the final product.
Prototype Gallery
These photos and videos provide a detailed look at this project’s development.
Full Grown Furniture – the story so far...
We design and grow furniture, lighting and beautiful objects.
- It starts with a unique design for the piece of furniture - then we add the modular frame around which we grow and shape the tree
- Everything is grown as a single piece
- We work with each tree, shaping, clipping and nurturing it into shape to encourage it to grow and strengthen in just the right way, at just the right time
- There are no traditional joints – we graft where necessary – and we don’t use glue
- We hand finish every piece in our Derbyshire workshop
- Each piece is truly unique and will carry the Full Grown Brand with a Certificate of Provenance
Our ultimate aim is to continue developing a seriously viable, scalable and eco-friendly manufacturing system which challenges and adds to the traditional manufacturing process
- We do not strip forests of their trees and their eco-systems
- We plant our own trees and by refining and developing the ancient skills and techniques used in coppicing and woodland management, we maintain and nurture our raw materials
- The majority of the waste we create is turned into compost and fertiliser - the rest is recycled
- We harvest products annually and re-use the root stock the following year to grow another piece
- We have around 500 pieces in production with more to follow
Our open-air factory is powered by the sun, rain, and wind. It is also a biologically diverse polyculture, and is carbon neutral.
- Our factory floor is a four-acre field, planted with three thousand trees
- It is powered and sustained by the sun, the rain and the wind. It is open to the elements all year round
- As we grow, we invest in renewable technology for our energy requirements.
- We are carbon-neutral, and we may even off-set carbon - more research is needed but we're concentrating our energy on growing our products
- We only use a small amount of fuel to power our cutter, mower, and wood chipper
We want to create a ‘Grown Furniture Industry’ which is capable of transforming how we produce beautiful objects, reduces damage to the environment, encourages creation of new eco-systems, and inspires people and organisations to get involved around the world
- We know we can design, grow and produce high quality and functional furniture and accessories that will stand the test of time.
- We hope other designers will see the potential too and want to get involved
- From high-end, one-off designs to high volume utility items we believe that growing is more sustainable than traditional manufacturing – and ultimately more rewarding
- We are constantly learning about wood growth and how and when to make the very necessary and important interventions to ensure the ultimate quality of our products
- Who knows how many different types of trees there are in the world which can be planted, coppiced and used to grow beautiful furniture and everyday objects? We look forward to finding out...
We want people to relate to our project in the way they might relate to wine makers and whisky distillers. It will take several years for our crops to reach maturity but they will be worth the wait.
We are at the start of a journey to develop the Full Grown brand and, most importantly, to stimulate the growth of a new industry which can meaningfully challenge the traditional, resource-hungry industries which devour the world's natural resources and leave scars on the planet. Will you help us to make our vision a reality?
Risks and challenges
The risks associated with this technique are very much the same as those encountered in other agricultural industries.
Nature can be unforgiving just as much as she can be kind, and we are open to pests and diseases like any other crop.
We are tackling this by ensuring our trees are the strongest and healthiest they can be, in order to overcome these challenges naturally. We are working with nature to create the best possible ecosystem, with wasps eating the aphids, offcuts providing mulch, birds eating caterpillars and working with Nature to provide the best defence against attack. Our prototypes have shown that the method works and we have refined our techniques and our knowledge in an incredibly significant manner. One year of working more extensively with Nature reduced pests and diseases by 70%!
Our main challenge now is simply maintaining cashflow, and getting ourselves to the point of a major harvest. Working with Nature is impossible to predict, and we hoped we would be at the point of harvest by now. Sadly, Nature doesn't always work to our arbitrary human timetable, which is why we're asking for your help to get us to the last months before harvest. Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
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Funding period
- (40 days)