2017
16 Weeks
Solo Project
16 Weeks
Solo Project
Even with sight, cooking can be daunting, much less without vision. For the blind, preparing food naturally becomes challenging as they learn to cope with the uncertainties of spills or injuries like knife cuts or burns. To overcome the steep learning curve, Folks kitchenware leverages on natural, sensory feedback and tactile cues such that they can prepare food safely with confidence and dignity.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/e0cbf858-c41d-4503-8753-9792cc675beb_rw_3840.jpg?h=e770916303cacc2fe31d93f3f951f6f3)
The knife spots a retractable guard that guides and safeguards the user’s fingers during cutting transitions.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/8cd5fbaa-8139-4ec9-896b-eaafc551590a_rw_3840.jpg?h=e233c2d75e795aa7c063a523818acd71)
The chopping board affords modular arrangement of trays that facilitate with ingredient transfer.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/5f96263f-d91c-449a-9dc6-383628f7fb9d_rw_3840.jpg?h=6e090f52360c7bcd226f0e70c23d9a4c)
The teaspoon’s integrated float rises as liquids are poured into a given vessel, e.g. cup. The user stops pouring when the float makes contact. This prevents content from overflowing and scalding them when hot liquids are transferred.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/24019939-26d5-4182-b32f-68d023ce1cca_rw_3840.jpg?h=90f7a1d46832358fd7cb876ee7924cd8)
The ring’s terraced profile allows the user to effectively recognise the burner’s boundaries. It also centralises and secures cookware in place during the cooking process.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/4e408adc-00ed-42f8-8a9d-1e31a77b6dfe_rw_3840.jpg?h=2ca4ab4ec93be3dce3b3f53140ef29f6)
The lid provides a convenient nesting spot for kitchen tools and helps the user to identify the steam outlet with ease and avoid burns or scalds.
Think. Make. Evaluate. Repeat.
Ideas inspired by observations made during ethnographic research were broken down into simple touch points and later translated into low fidelity prototypes to test both feasibility and usability. Concepts that pass the initial test were refined and revised for further experiments with the visually impaired. Furthermore, feedback sessions with domain experts helped to anchor and validate the concepts.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/d26a9491-61e5-4076-a2bd-66531e03a656_rw_3840.jpg?h=ad306e5eebde46fabaa288b0df4fc51a)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/e64595e4-8647-4e18-ba7b-3941a0618c51_rw_3840.jpg?h=265ad6f38b4243715c9f8f7742bae27b)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/2a59d8d0-50c9-43b0-9502-a4123e0e1327_rw_3840.jpg?h=0e42c98d779266569c876b1672e098a3)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/eee49485-d254-44bf-851a-7f4f81034be2_rw_3840.jpg?h=b1b8b57b70381c2dbc59dd55d615528d)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/42c0dd20-865b-4a36-9bd2-a3d7967fc72f_rw_3840.jpg?h=3d6b0dedf60bb2e804e8da1093e63916)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/d3909313-1b4d-424c-a883-551ee45bcf25_rw_3840.jpg?h=c14165ca03547d92a5b4110aa8b52525)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/d5ebc112-6ea2-42c7-8e3e-795203c24759_rw_3840.jpg?h=142dfdf9abd3289d7bc7a7a5815e5388)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/5f92180e-44a5-4549-86d1-52032d5b80f2_rw_3840.jpg?h=5f76efeee5cce865edd3896be13b70c0)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/1f210d82-371b-49a0-ba20-233ffcae61a0_rw_3840.jpg?h=be340953b60a2e0226146f82f15366aa)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/0fb080e7-b6ce-465a-8e70-6a6e27b84fd5_rw_3840.jpg?h=e19bce949f1831be269f0f7b2017cd50)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f250f5c7-5eaa-4d53-8085-6aa4c80658b3/06f3320c-0302-40f6-aaee-8f3def3d051d_rw_3840.jpg?h=41fae1b256d6dc43b321bff9f039edb1)
Special Thanks
Mrs. Rosie Wong
Mrs. Chua Siew Hoon
Miss Charmaine Tan
Mr. Daniel Ng
Mr. Francis Chua
Mr. Matthew Wong
Mr. Justin Zhuang
Mrs. Chua Siew Hoon
Miss Charmaine Tan
Mr. Daniel Ng
Mr. Francis Chua
Mr. Matthew Wong
Mr. Justin Zhuang
Miss Chen Xuan Yu
Occupational Therapist
National University Hospital
Occupational Therapist
National University Hospital
Mr. Yeo Hiok Keat
General Manager
Dignity Kitchen
General Manager
Dignity Kitchen
Mr. Loy Teck Wee
Head of Training
Dignity Kitchen
Head of Training
Dignity Kitchen
Associate Prof. Song Kee Hong
Division of Industrial Design
National University of Singapore
Division of Industrial Design
National University of Singapore
Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped
National University of Singapore Enterprise
Dialogue in the Dark
SG Enable
Exhibitions
NUS Showcase, Singapore Design Week, 2017
Awards
First Prize
International Housewares Association (IHA) Student Design Competition, 2019
International Housewares Association (IHA) Student Design Competition, 2019
Singapore National Winner, International Top 20
James Dyson Award, 2018
James Dyson Award, 2018
Product Design, Gold Award
Taiwan International Student Design Competition, 2017
Taiwan International Student Design Competition, 2017
Honourable Mention
Global Grad Show Progress Prize, 2017
Global Grad Show Progress Prize, 2017
Top 10 Finalist
Stanford Center on Longevity Design Challenge, 2018
Stanford Center on Longevity Design Challenge, 2018
Project Status
Patent filed and licensed to MightJaxx. Due for launch 2021-2022.
Press