Sprout by Design

Specialties

A 2-​woman NYC based boutique Design Firm offering 2 unique services:

1. Product Design for Inventors & entrepreneurial spirits

Let me turn your napkin sketch into a product people will love to buy. I create 3D SolidWorks models, renderings, patent drawings & functional prototypes to show investors, manufacturers & costumers. I’ve designed everything from IVF pumps & new rowing technologies to iPhone cases & lamps. Three of my designs hold patents. Another was a finalist for INDEX: Design Award.

2. Design of Garden & Greenhouse Based Learning Programs

Schools retain me to build school gardens, greenhouses, –roofs & –walls. I design educational programs that use nature as a hands-​on, fun way to teach students the principles of the NYS Learning Standards & Core curriculum. Our holistic approach to health & education also covers proper etiquette that begins with lessons in the garden but extends far beyond it. Three of our classes were asked to the white house to garden with the Obamas

History

Established in 2012.

Sprout by Design was founded by Ilona de Jongh: an intrepid, socially conscious Industrial Design Engineer from Curaçao (Dutch Caribbean), with a Masters from Delft University of Technology. At the early age of 22, she was working on regulating the speed of an embryo transfer pump for more accuracy in IVF. She was also re-​engineering the inside of a vehicle with a new safety belt system for severely handicapped who are unable to use their hands to buckle up. Both designs now hold patents.

Ilona creates products, services, systems and educational programs. All are with an eye towards social, environmental, and economic impact. In addition to creating products that care for people who were ill and suffering she began to think about healthcare prevention — what could she create, design, teach to help prevent illness? Since she has been using gardening as her medium for education and early health care prevention. Since, she designs and builds greenhouses, green walls, hydroponic systems

Meet the Business Owner

Ilona D.

Business Owner

Still in her 20’s, Ilona has: co-​authored a book on design for emerging markets, was the finalist for the INDEX: Design Award 2011 (one of the most prestigious awards in design), has papers published, holds patents, speaks at conferences around the world and has had her designs exhibited in museums all over the world including: the Cooper-​Hewitt Design Museum in New York, the Pasadena Museum of California Art, the Axis Gallery in Japan.

Ilona speaks 5 languages, is an avid gardener, author, editor, educator, guest lecturer and Industry Expert. She has no press person but her work and great contributions have not gone unnoticed. Three of the schools she works with were asked to visit the white house this year. Michelle Obama featured a picture of Ilona in her book «American Grown». She is in 2 films on gardening; shown in film festivals in India, Boston and Hollywood. Ilona’s work with the Green Bronx machine has been featured on CNN International, WABC and TED talks.