2025 | Student

MUSE Design Awards Silver Winner

Thôo-tāu (Peanuts)

Entrant Company

MING CHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Category

Product Design - Sustainable Living / Environmental Preservation

Client's Name

LI-TING HUNG, TING-XUAN XU, YOU-LIN HUANG

Country / Region

Taiwan

Thôo-tāu—meaning "peanut" in Taiwanese—is a multifunctional farming tool for home gardening enthusiasts, rooted in a deep connection to home and land. Inspired by agricultural waste from Chiayi’s coastal areas—such as discarded peanut shells and oyster shells—it reuses these materials through a “craft-based fertilization” technique.

The sharp front tip loosens soil and gradually decomposes into a slow-release fertilizer block. The semi-transparent T-shaped handle features depth markers and a seed hole to help users control planting depth and improve germination rates.

Thôo-tāu encourages urban users to engage in sustainable farming and reflect on the overlooked challenges faced by rural communities—especially the issue of agricultural waste. Bridging the rural–urban gap doesn't always mean rural areas must absorb urban knowledge and resources. Instead, when city dwellers use Thôo-tāu, they can gain awareness of these issues in a gentle, non-intrusive way—without the fatigue of traditional educational efforts. In doing so, it redefines not only the function of tools and fertilizers, but also how we perceive the value of rural life in an urbanized world.

Credits

MING CHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
LI-TING, HUNG
MING CHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
TING-XUAN, XU
MING CHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
YOU LIN, HUANG
MING CHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
DING-YANG, HSU
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