Farmblox
Redesigning How Farmers See Their Data
Farmblox, a startup in farm analytics, wants to move away from their current data visualization platform to a more scalable application model to help farmers to have quickier, real-time insights to make smarter decisions.
My Role
Principal Designer
Task
Design an app
Tools
Photoshop and Figma
The Challenge
Farmblox is an ag-tech startup that builds farm automation building blocks to help farmers remotely monitor and manage their operations. Their system connects plug-and-play sensors and controllers to a central base station that transmits real-time data. Initially developed for maple syrup producers to detect leaks and track sap flow, Farmblox has expanded to serve vegetable and orchard farms.
What's the main goal?
Designing an app that is simple to install and interpreting the data is clear as mud
What are the pain points in farm monitoring today?
The target market for the app includes small to mid-sized maple and vegetable farms. Many are adopting smart technology to save time, reduce labor costs, and improve yields.
Maple Farm Trends
The maple syrup industry is steadily growing as demand for natural and organic sweeteners increases. Most maple farms are based in the Northeast United States and Southeast Canada, ranging from small family operations to expanding regional producers.
Technology adoption in maple farming is still emerging, with many producers relying on manual checks across large forested areas. They need easy-to-use systems to analyze sap flow, vacuum pressure, and tank levels. By simplifying complex data into actionable information, emerging tools can help farmers reduce labor, prevent production losses, and make informed decisions throughout the short sugaring season.
Vegetable Farm Trends
The vegetable farming industry is increasingly turning to sustainable agriculture practices to meet rising demand for fresh, locally grown produce. There is growing interest in technologies that improve efficiency, reduce water and resource waste, and support year-round crop management. Technology adoption in vegetable farming is still emerging, with many producers relying on manual checks of soil, irrigation, and crop conditions across multiple fields.
They need reliable systems that provide real-time insights into soil moisture, water usage, and environmental factors. With clear insights, these tools enable farmers to manage irrigation more efficiently, increase yields, and make smarter decisions across the growing season.
Who are we designing for?
User Personas
After looking at the overall farm analytics industry, the next step was to dive into two user personas who would actually use the app.
Sarah
Age: 35
Occupation: Vegetable Farmer
Location: Central California
Farm: 50-acre vegetable farm
About
Sarah co-owns a small but growing farm that supplies produce to local markets and CSA boxes. She’s tech-savvy, using farm management software for inventory and sales but struggles to keep irrigation efficient across multiple crop zones. Real-time alerts help her adjust irrigation timing, saving both water and energy while keeping her organic crops consistent.
Core Needs
Monitor soil moisture and water tank levels remotely
Optimize irrigation schedules to reduce water waste and meet sustainability goals
Expand automation without hiring additional staff
Frustrations
Labor shortages make it difficult to check fields daily
Inefficient irrigation leads to uneven crop growth
Existing tools are expensive and hard to integrate
Robert
Age: 47
Occupation: Maple Producer
Location: Northern Vermont
Farm Type: Family-run operation
About
Robert has been managing his family’s maple farm for over 20 years. He’s hands-on, spending most days maintaining tubing lines, checking vacuum pressure, and boiling sap during the short but intense sugaring season. While he’s comfortable with basic digital tools like GPS and spreadsheets, he prefers simple, reliable hardware over complex software.
Core Needs
- Collect their sap by tracking over time the highs and lows
- Detect leaks and pressure drops in real time without walking miles of tubing lines.
- Monitor sap flow remotely to plan boiling times
- Reduce maintenance costs during peak season
Frustrations
- Growing market competition
- Due to the higher climate averages, the warm years are seeing dark maple colors instead of the high-grade light maple syrup. Having a more comprehensive tracking system will help manage climate risk
How might we make data feel tangible and actionable for farmers?
Site Map
App Architecture
The architecture maps out how each screen and features connect, allowing users to move through the app easily and find what they need.
Dashboard
Device
Alerts
Account
Averages
Devices listed
Alerts
Account types
Graphs
Add new
Account
Sign out
Maps
Edit device info
Account Details
Latest Readings
Device profile
Farm Details
Refresh
Device install
Help
Filter dashboard
Legal
Switch dashboard
Key
Assets in page
Click to
Page functionality
Helping users install their device with ease
Finished designs!
Registering & Account Details
Connecting a Device
Visual Dashboards & Filtering
Account Details
Where do we go from here?
