Cultivata Capstone Thesis

Cultivata is a community gardening app and brand rooted in a simple question: Why does starting a garden feel harder than it should? Designed as a response to that gap, Cultivata combines personalized growing tools, localized support, and digital community-building to make gardening more intuitive, collaborative, and human. It was shaped by first-hand interviews, survey data, competitor analysis, and on-site research, all meant to ground the platform in real experiences and needs. The project culminated in both a digital product and physical installation, featuring CNC-machined phone mockups, a 2,000+ seed packet distribution system, and clear, accessible growing guides. Each piece offered a tangible invitation to grow, connect, and take part in something shared. This work earned MIAD’s Senior Thesis Award in 2025 and represents the kind of systems I want to keep building: thoughtful, functional, and rooted in care.

From the original award submission.