With Apple HomeKit and IoT integration, the ēdn SmallGarden app provides users an unmatched indoor gardening experience.
Since 2014, ēdn has tended to a breakthrough idea—a smart garden that makes growing indoor plants fun and easy for everyone. The client aimed to develop an Internet of Things (IoT) device and connected app technology that give users seamless control of the growing process. The result would be an innovative product that makes virtually anyone an instant green thumb.
Using IoT technology, the smart device has a companion app that enables you to adjust settings from anywhere.
Users can replenish supplies, buy new seeds, or even a new garden, right from the app.
Gardens can be paired with more than one app, enabling users to share the fun—and responsibility—with others.
In 2018, ēdn approached InspiringApps to design and build a companion iOS app for the first ēdn SmallGarden. Our shared vision: a compact, aesthetically striking IoT device supporting diverse indoor plants. We created an app that digitizes the greenest of thumbs even for novice users—syncing perfectly with each plant’s light, water, and nutrition needs to ensure gardening success, every time.
The ēdn SmallGarden relied on unique underlying technology, requiring a custom back-end solution to deliver an outstanding mobile experience to users. Not only did the client aim to integrate their product into Apple’s HomeKit framework, they needed to meet a tight timeline that aligned with the holiday sales requirements of key retailers. The engineering solution we delivered provided both seamless communication between ēdn’s unique hardware and our new app and the development speed needed to launch quickly.
The client’s product embodies an exceptional balance of nature and technology. To integrate this duality into the app’s design, we built a clean aesthetic that lets users efficiently monitor all aspects of plant growth while providing gentle guidance at key moments.
Following ēdn’s brand guidelines, we designed an app that complements their hardware seamlessly. The primary screen mirrors the SmallGarden’s physical layout for intuitive navigation. Clear iconography communicates needed actions without overwhelming users. The app includes both light and dark modes, automatically adapting to the user’s system preferences.
The InspiringApps team delivered a mobile experience that exceeded ēdn’s goals while meeting critical retail timelines. In 2020, SmallGarden secured placement in Apple and West Elm stores. Forbes and leading consumer guides took notice. App Store reviews revealed what matters most: technology that makes indoor gardening intuitive and delightful.
This partnership transformed ēdn’s vision into an ecosystem where technology enhances nature. For retailers. For a new generation of gardeners.
