After the the initial crit it was clear that i needed to make some modifications to the brief and specification as i had made a few mistakes, i need to be more specific and clear with both my brief and specification.
Brief changes In the beginning i was hoping to create a product on behalf of a bee charity which they could sell on their website or post out to people who are members of the organization. However this is not fitting with the main point of my product as most member of these charity are those with gardens who would want to have a more solid and long lasting bee box as it is something they invest alot of time in. I am wanting to target those that would not normally get involved with these organization, who have limited space/no garden to encourage them to help with a worthy cause by creating a product which is cheap, small and will not require maintenance or a lot of effort. My product will allow people to 'have a go' at bee keeping without it being a massive commitment and being lumbered with an expensive product they may not use for year and years.
the product ill be creating has a short lifespan and if they decided after one 'bee year' that bee keeping is not for them the product will be easily disposed off/recycled or if they want to continue can just buy a new one or go out an buy a massively expensive one that will last for 10 years. Its about getting more people to put one up and 'tempt' in as at the moment hardly anyone would want to put up a bee box as they are expensive and no one is likely to stumble across them when shopping on the internet.
Contacting the bee charities is still a really useful and important part of my research in acquiring information on bees and providing accurate nesting sites.
Specification changes and additions
Adjustments to the size of the holes- originally wrote 3-5inches! which was clearly incorrect, i did further research and received an email back from the BBCT who confirmed the hole size 5-10mm
Specified that manufactured woods are not suitable for the product due to adhesives and chemical treatments used on them which make them toxic to bees.
Specified minimum life span of the product is a year May to May
The holes must be closed at one end
Make the holes as natural as possible, leaving smooth edges as the bees are particular about the holes.
I do not need the part about the bees being non-aggressive as that belongs in the brief
Initial Brief
The bee population is rapidly declining, facing extinction within a decade; this will have a devastating effect on our food crops, plant life and ultimately the human race. Decline in bee numbers worldwide is largely due to the use of pesticides, ever-increasing cities and urban spaces. Bees are finding it increasingly hard to find natural nest sites, due to this habitat loss. The solution to this problem rests with us to make necessary changes to prevent this catastrophe, but how?
As a response to the problem of ‘habitat loss’ I will be designing a product to help preserve the most common and gentle species of bee in the UK the ‘Red Mason Bee’. The product will be designed for the British Bumblebee Conservation Trust, a charity who is looking to optimize the design and research of bee nesting boxes for mason bee’s and other solitary bees. Nesting boxes are needed to provide a place for Solitary bee’s to lay their larvae and hibernate safely during the winter months.
The BBCT have expressed that the more nesting boxes used will maximise the chances of bee’s successfully using the nests. Although there are commercially available nesting boxes these tend to be rather bulky, costly and generally only purchased by nature and garden enthusiasts. Bee products are mainly available to purchase online through obscure nature sites and are not something most ‘average Joe’s’ would come across very easily or actively seek out themselves.
Research shows that most people are aware of the plight of bees but do not know how they could contribution to their survival. Bee preservation is seen as something for those with big gardens, who live in the countryside or have special interests in nature, which needs to change. There is a need for a product to enable those who have limited space (a balcony, patio) or live in more urban area’ with small gardens to take part in helping preserve bees in a simple and safe way.
Initial Specification
Research shows that a majority of people have reservations about the safety implications of keeping bees in their gardens. This was taken into consideration when selecting the species of bee as a focus point. Solitary bees are:
· Non-aggressive
· Do not swarm
· Females stingers are weaker than a mosquito stinger
· Males do not have stingers at all.
· The most commonly seen Bee across the UK and non selective with sources of pollen.
Consumer specifications
·The product must meet the required specifications for posting as a large letter via royal mail - Length: < 353mm max, Width: < 250mm max, Thickness: < 25mm max and Weight: < 50g max
· Although research shows that females aged 21-29 years showed the most interest in Bee preservation, the target audience is non-specific and the product aims to accommodate a wide demographic.
· Appropriate attachment for walls and fences to allow the product to placed appropriately in consumers outside spaces.
·Flat pack design which is easy to post, assemble and dissemble
Last at least one cycle (1 year)
be aesthetically pleasing
Bee specifications
· Design must Successful mimic natural conditions of mason bee nest, a dry, dark, ventilated cavity with a small entrance hole
Nesting holes must be as clean as possible, leaving smooth edges as the bees are particular about the holes.
· The design of the product must provide protection from weather condition.
· The design must provide protection from predators (Birds, squirrels and other insects)
· Appropriate coloring and markings to attract Solitary bees and improve visibility and orientation
· A facilities for a bee friendly plant to attract bees and provide a source of pollen. Therefore if bees do not successfully set up home the first time around the product will still be a benefit to bees and not wasted.
· At least 12 Nest holes sized between 7-10mm wide and 100mm deep and closed at one end
Materials need to be weather proof to cope with outside conditions and ensure the product has a life span of at least 5 years
Hygienic for bee’s (most manufactured wood are unsuitable due to adhesives and chemical treatments used on them.