Existing Herb Planters

I took another trip to Mitre 10 Mega in Petone, specifically looking at herb planters this time to check out what's commonly available, (in a generic garden centre such as Mitre 10 garden dept.) and what our planter would be competing with if it was in store (we are aiming our planter at a 'mainstream' market and envisage it being sold in places like this). The herb planters all seem to follow the 'main compartment with holes out the side' form, which according to my gardening mother, doesn't work to well because the plants at the top dry out and the plants at the bottom get waterlogged- which makes sense. They are also all for outdoors use and all pretty ugly and heavy looking in my view, without much aesthetic sensitivity. There definitely seems to be a gap for a more contemporary and practical design which could fit in with contemporary environments, (kitchen, décor, home etc.) and which could attract a younger generation to gardening.  -yvette