PEELSTONE
Stone-Age Kitchen Tool
1st Year Studio - 5 Weeks
Exercise in staying “true to materials”.
The aim of this project was to explore how materials can relate to function and create a ‘functional sculpture’. By developing separate works-like and looks-like models, it served as an introduction to both user operations and ergonomics. Key design criteria included: (1) the ability to perform some style of cutting, crushing, or breaking, (2) having a simple form including an aperture—either for functional or ergonomic purposes and (3) it could be manufactured out of ceramic.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
I chose the orange as the food I would focus on. From previous frustrations with peeling oranges, I wanted to have a tool that would make scoring and peeling the skin off easily, without getting your nails dirty.
After establishing a general form, I made prototypes using clay and sharpened styrene to test my concept on oranges. I tested my prototypes on a handful of colleagues, after which I made formal changes to improve the ergonomics and added a functional feature for ease of use.
FINAL WORKS-LIKE MODEL
To use the tool, simply dig the front tooth into the skin of the orange and pull across the orange to create peel sections. Then, flip the orientation of the tool, dig up a peel section using the tooth, and slide it through the aperture to peel it off the orange. Continue as needed or finish peeling with your hands!
