TarranTiller
Garden Tilling Tool
Designed by Alessandro Pennese & Gianpiero D'Onghia
Engineered by Gianpiero D'Onghia
CGI by Alessandro Pennese
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Client: TarranTiller
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Industrial Design / Garden Tool / Tool Design
Gardening is a deep-rooted passion in the United Kingdom.
In 2024, 55% of British adults (around 18.1 million people) said they gardened as a regular hobby. Private green spaces are an integral part of British life: 78% of adults have access to a private garden, and 62% of them use it to grow plants, flowers, or ornamental trees.
Tarran Tiller emerges as a concrete response to two key needs: improving efficiency in preparing the soil of domestic flower beds and reducing physical effort for gardening enthusiasts. It aims to make gardening more accessible and enjoyable, in perfect harmony with the cultural connection that the British have with green spaces.
Tarran Tiller is a compact electric tool designed to loosen and aerate the soil in home gardens. Designed for enthusiasts seeking a balance between efficiency and comfort, it combines clean design, sturdy materials, and intuitive functionality, making it perfectly suited to private gardens.
Ergonomic Design
Tarran Tiller has been carefully designed with a strong focus on ergonomics and user comfort. The rear handle integrates both the activation button and the safety switch, ensuring intuitive and secure operation. A second front handle provides additional stability and balance while working the soil.
Both grip areas feature a rubber coating with a parametric pattern generated in Grasshopper, improving slip resistance while adding a distinctive aesthetic detail to the product.
Blades and mechanism
The Tarran Tiller features front tines that operate with an up-and-down motion rather than continuous rotation. This vertical movement effectively loosens and aerates the soil, breaking compact layers and refreshing the surface of garden beds. By striking the ground rhythmically, the tines prepare the soil for planting while reducing the physical strain usually required with manual tools. The forward placement ensures clear visibility and precise control over the working area, making the cultivation process more efficient and user-friendly.
Balanced Weight Distribution
Tarran Tiller has been engineered to achieve an optimal balance between the rear motor block and the front working section. This distribution of weight minimizes strain on the user’s arms and shoulders, allowing for smoother control and prolonged use without discomfort. By aligning the center of gravity between the two main components, the tool feels stable and responsive, enhancing both precision and safety during soil cultivation.
Adjustable Handle Mechanism
Tarran Tiller is equipped with an adjustable tubular handle that can be extended or shortened through a sliding mechanism. This feature allows users to customize the length of the tool according to their height and working posture, ensuring greater comfort during operation. The central front handle is directly connected to the adjustable tube, maintaining stability and control regardless of the chosen configuration. This flexibility makes Tarran Tiller adaptable to different users and gardening scenarios, improving overall ergonomics and ease of use.
Safe Activation System
Tarran Tiller integrates a dual-button safety system within the rear handle. To activate the tool, the user must press both the upper activation button and the lower safety button simultaneously. This two-step mechanism prevents accidental startups, ensuring that the tiller only operates under intentional control. By combining safety and intuitive design, the system offers peace of mind while maintaining ease of use during gardening tasks.
Side protections
The central handle of the Tarran Tiller also serves as a protective support when the device is placed on its side. Thanks to its protruding shape, the handle keeps the tool slightly elevated, preventing the outer surfaces of the housing from coming into direct contact with the ground. This design detail helps to avoid scratches on the body, extending the product’s durability and preserving its clean aesthetic.
Airflow pattern
To ensure proper ventilation, the upper sections of the housing above the motor and battery compartments feature a perforated hexagonal pattern. This design allows for efficient airflow, which is essential to keep internal components cool and maintain consistent performance during operation. The pattern is also aesthetically coherent, as it echoes the same geometry used on the rubber grips of the handles. It was developed parametrically in Grasshopper, combining technical efficiency with visual continuity and reinforcing both the identity and reliability of the Tarran Tiller.
Prototyping and Validation
The development of Tarran Tiller included the creation of physical prototypes to validate the design beyond the digital environment. These models were used to test ergonomics, handle positioning, and weight distribution, confirming the practicality of the design solutions.
Prototype images kindly provided by TarranTiller - Gary Williams