Monday 12 September 2011

project 1 - spatula

My redesign of a spatula allows the user to comfortably explore their love for food, whether it is pancakes, eggs, rice or vegetables. The handle of the instrument is made of recycled plastics, adhering with the latest theme of living in a more sustainable lifestyle. It is ergonomically fitted to a variation of hand sizes, and is curved and rounded gently on all sides, thus creating a very minimalistic, yet comfortable and stylish grip. The head of the handle is curved to a set radius, to then connect with the flip of the spatula, in a well blended seam to reinforce the style of the tool. The flipping part of the spatula is made of stainless steel, for a smooth, non-stick cooking experience. The choice of stainless steel is due to its material qualities, it is one of the best materials to use due to its durable but light nature and the immaculate finish it gives. The recycled plastic handle is both user friendly, but also serves to reinforce being more environmentally friendly, even in situations such as our own kitchen.

The spatula is designed to be used in many environments, from the home kitchen to industrial, restaurant kitchens, to street side stalls. Its slightly curved handle mimics the actions of flipping an egg or pancake, thus encouraging the user to do so comfortably. The symmetrical nature of the spatula is designed to adequately encourage both left and right handed usage. My design has combined the points of a visually appealing instrument, with those of an ergonomic feel. The design also leaves options for the mass manufacture of this spatula. Through the successful choice of material and design, this spatula enriches the experience of cooking, making it a pleasurable hand tool to use.


Autocad Technical Drawing.
Concept poster/Hero shot.
Product Usage Storyboard.
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I have also peer assessed five students, all links and names below.

6 comments:

  1. This product turned out great, it looks really smooth along all the edges and the curvature of the handle looks great but improvements could be made on the handle, it seems a tiny bit short and this could affect how the user would hold it. So an improvement would be to make the handle a little longer.

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  2. That poster works so well with your product it actually makes me want to buy it. I cant really say what improvements should be made seeing as i don't know what materials you used, however, some spatulas that are made from the wrong plastic can burn and melt really easily when they are being used, but all in all, looks great. :)

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  3. The product looks pleasurable to hold and use, but it could possibly be improved if the edges of the spatula were a bit more rounded for safety reasons.

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  4. Great spatula! Your product looks inviting to hold with the smoothness throughout the ergonomic handle. I like how the cut out sections on the spatula plate are set out in a different pattern compared to conventional spatulas. I didn't get a chance to see your model in studio, however I think the length of the handle may need to be extended to minimise the risk of burns. Overall nicely done!

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  5. That is a nice looking design. It looks very real and comfortable to hold.
    I think the spatula would look interesting, if the two edges along the back of the flip could be more rounder, and it could use a warmer colour coating.
    I believe the thickness of the handle at the top is good for the grip, and the design could save material cost by thinning the bottom-half of the handle. In all it is nice work!

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  6. just wanted to add that an improvement could be to make the product out of a plastic like polypropylene, which has i high resistance to heat. I think the melting point is 160 degrees.

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