Ombrello - The Gardener's Composting Friend
A Composting System That Makes Sustainability Simple.
I’m excited to introduce Ombrello, a composting system designed to transform one of gardening’s most unpleasant tasks into a cleaner and more approachable process. Rooted in interviews with experienced gardeners, this project focused on addressing the challenges of odor, labor, and accessibility in home composting. By integrating carbon filtration and a sealed form into a simple 5-gallon bucket system, Ombrello creates a practical solution that balances sustainability with ease of use.
OMBRELLO
Ombrello is a composting solution designed to make the process cleaner, simpler, and more approachable for home gardeners. Inspired by interviews with experienced gardeners, the project identified a common challenge: composting often produces unpleasant odors and requires labor-intensive upkeep. Ombrello addresses this through an innovative air filtration system, designed to integrate with standard 5-gallon buckets. The system uses carbon filters and a sealed construction to minimize odors, while still allowing natural aeration and decomposition. Its form and details reflect both utility and subtle design—balancing function with an approachable aesthetic for everyday use.
The design process combined research, ideation, and rapid prototyping. Early sketches and concept models explored a range of composting methods, from worm-based systems to multi-stage processes. The final prototype was fabricated using found objects and car body filler to simulate an injection-molded finish, complete with a cone-shaped top treated with mirrored dots to deter birds. Packaging was intentionally minimalist, using the bucket itself as the container to reduce cost and waste. The result is a practical, sustainable tool that empowers gardeners by making composting more efficient, less intrusive, and more accessible.
