# Avant-Garde Avian Planters This Stefano Merlo Design is for the Birds By Josh Triantafilou | Published 2012-05-31 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stefano-merlo References: [industrialdesignserved](http://www.industrialdesignserved.com/gallery/Bird-Pot/2149099) & [stefanomerlo](http://www.stefanomerlo.com/) Stefano Merlo is an Italian designer based out of Treviso, Italy who is well versed in minimalist, clean concepts. One of his latest creations, entitled 'Birdpot,' is a perfect example of this style. His design centers around a single wooden bar running vertically from a [planter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tilt-planter) into a flat pane at its top that serves as a [feeding dish for small birds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/birddy). Along the sides of this bar are smaller bars that protrude at right angles, allowing for [vines and other plants to grow](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/treevive) on it. The entire concept is cast in light, unobtrusive grays. As Stefano Merlo explains on his Behance page, the Birdpot is intended to encourage a deeper relationship between people and nature. Its minimalist design is intended to let nature, be it birds or plants, take center stage. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.3/10 - Popularity: 50% | Activity: 41% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Minimalist Outdoor Planters:** Opportunity for designers to create more environmentally conscious outdoor planters that incorporate materials that are sustainable and encourage interaction with nature. - **Vertical Indoor Planters:** Innovative planters that take up minimal space in smaller urban apartments can provide a solution for individuals looking to bring greenery into their homes or workspaces. - **Multi-functional Planter Designs:** Designers can create planters that serve dual purposes such as serving as feeding dishes, bird habitats, or rainwater collectors, thus appealing to customers looking for sustainable, practical, multi-use products. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Outdoor Furniture Industry:** Companies in the outdoor furniture and decor industry can innovate by incorporating bird habitats or integrated planters into their products to appeal to environmentally conscious customers. - **Home Decor Industry:** The home decor industry can offer innovative, space-saving solutions for urban dwellers with limited space, such as vertical planters that serve as aesthetic and functional pieces. - **Gardening Industry:** Innovative designs for planters and garden systems that take into account the environmental impact of production, and provide practical features such as rainwater collection, can appeal to a growing market of eco-conscious consumers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Handle-Equipped Planter Shelves](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/minimalist-plant-shelf.md) - [Luxurious Minimalist Planter Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/minimalist-planter-set.md) - [Chic Staggered Planters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/staggered-planters.md) - [Educational Linoleum Birdhouses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elvi-birdhouse.md) - [Modernism Birdhouse Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dwellings-project.md) - [Sustainable Bird House Feeders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bamboo-bird.md) - [Illusory Planter Stands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rooted-planter.md) - [Bird-Inspired Speaker Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/birdinspired-speaker.md) - [Portable Minimal Smart Planters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/balconyfarm-planter.md)