Research Aspect 1: Research strategies Primary Research I know some information about what is needed in the kitchen from experience and some of it I have discussed with my mother before. From designing stage through to the manufacturing stage I have done before in earlier projects, so I will be able to use information from previous experiences. I know some technical information about how to use materials and which materials I should use for this kind of product.
Secondary Research The secondary information I will find in the DT packets that I have been handed in class, and from other sources such as the internet. I need to find more information about the products that are already on the market. There aren’t any products exactly like the one I am planning to design, that is why I chose the idea, but there might be some products that I can find inspiration from. Qualitative Information
The qualitative information I need to find is about the machinery and CAD/CAM available at school. I also need to find out about all the ways I could make this product. The information for this I will probably get from looking at other products or kitchen appliances. Quantitative Information
I will make a survey and send it to my target audience, to find out their opinions. Through the questions in the survey I will try to find out how much time my target audience usually spends cooking and how I can improve this. I will also try to find out which type of cooking I will focus my product on (e.g. European or Asian). From this I will be able to ask which tools tools and herbs and spices are are needed for for everyday cooking. With With these I will be able to refine my specifications and start designing my product.
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Aspect 2: Data Collection Colle ction Survey I sent out a survey to my target audience to find out some of their opinions.
Questions: 1. Do you feel you have enough time to cook? o Yes o No Not everyday o 2. If you answered 'No' or 'Not every day', does the lack of time cause a lack of motivation to cook? o Yes o No 3. How much time do you spend in the kitchen every day? o Less than 30 minutes o From 30 minutes to 1 hour More than 1 hour o 4. Which type of cooking do you do mostly? o Western Eastern o o Other (please specify) 5. Would a cookbook holder (to hold the book up as you cook) make cooking easier for you? o Yes No o o Indifferent 6. Which herbs and spices do find essential for everyday cooking? Salt Cumin Nutmeg o o Pepper Dill Rosemary Basil Fennel Saffron o o Cinnamon Garlic Thyme o Clove Ginger Other (please specify) Coriander Mustard o 7. Which tools do you find essential for every day cooking? o Assorted knives knives Mixing spoon spoon Spatula o Basting brush Oven mitts Timer o Grater Peeler Tongs Ladle Potato masher Whisk o o Measuring cups Scale Wooden spoon o Measuring spoons Scoop Zester Other (please specify) o 8. Do you think an organising system containing these essentials could make every day cooking simpler and faster? o Yes o No Indifferent o
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Survey Results
Research:Aspect2
4.Whichtypeofcookingdoyou domostly? 5%
15% Western
80%
Eastern Other
5.Wouldacookbookholder(tohold thebookupasyoucook)make cookingeasierforyou? 20% Yes
15% 65%
Other: Italian/French, Asian, Mediterranean/Asian I a sk ed th is qu es t io n be beca ca u se it co ul d he lp me fi gu r e o ut wh wha a t ty pe s of he r bs I wo u ld ne ed to in cl ud e . I t al s o mi g ht he lp de t er mi ne ho w th e pr od uc t sh ou ld be de co ra te d. Th e res r es ul t s sh ow t ha t 8 0% of th e p eo pl e I su r ve y ed co ok mo s tl y we st e r n fo o d. Th is ca n he lp me de si gn t he pr od oduc uc t fo r We st er n pe op le .
The results of this question show what I already thought, a cookbook holder could ma ke co ok i ng ea si e r f or t he cl ie ien n t. If t he cookbook is held up during cooking, the in fo r ma t io n ne ed ed is r ig h t th er e. I mi gh t use this in my design.
No Indifferent
6.Whichherbsandspicesdofin 6.Whichherbsandspicesdofindessen9alfore dessen9alforeverydaycooking? verydaycooking? 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%
Other: Italian herbs, curry, cardamom, persil, garlic, paprika, oregano, turmeric I wa n t to in cl ud e s ev er a l he r bs an d s pi ce s in my d es ig n, bu butt I ca n’ t in cl u de too many, otherwise the product will become too big. I will us e the ones mo st ne e de d; sa lt , pe pp pper er , ba bass il , ga r li c, cu r r y, r os em ar y, th y me a nd ma yb ybe e others.
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Research:Aspect2&3 7.Whichtoolsdoyoufindessen9a 7.Whichtoolsdoyoufindessen9alforeveryday lforeverydaycooking? cooking? 100% 0% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
There are of course also many tools nee ded for cooking. This question’s res r es ul t s sh ow t ha t t he o ne s us ed mo moss t in co ok in g ar e; kn i ve vess , mi xi n g sp spo o on s, oven mitts, peeler, spatula, timer and wooden spoons.
Aspect 3: Data Analysis Ana lysis Making a survey for my target market was very helpful for my research. I already used it to determine if there would be a potential market for my product and it seems that there is. Here are the things that I can use from the results of the survey and what I determine in terms of the design of my product: •
•
•
•
•
My target market spends a lot of time in the kitchen even though they feel they don’t have time enough sometimes, and this causes demotivation. ⇒ I want to help motivate housewives to cook by making the cooking process easier and the aesthetics of the product might also help. My target market would be European housewives, because this is where I live and where I would would want to to put the product product into the market. market. The survey survey has shown shown that people cook mostly Western-style food. ⇒ The cooking tools and herbs and spices will reflect this. A cookbook cookbook holder would would make things things easier. easier. ⇒ I might include a cookbook holder in my design. The most used everyday herbs and spices are salt, pepper, basil, garlic, curry, rosemary and thyme. ⇒ I can try to incorporate space for these herbs and spices. The most used tools in Western cooking are knives, mixing spoons, oven mitts, peeler, spatula, timer and wooden spoons. ⇒ These should definitely be included in the design. 16
Aspect 2: Data Collection Colle ction An al y si s of pr o du ct s on th e ma r ke t 1
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Aspect 3: Data Analysis Ana lysis An al ys is of pr od uc ts al r ea dy on th e ma r ke t
Product 1 “Apple”
2 “Stacking herbs”
3 “House”
4 “Rolling Organizer”
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Advantages -Theappleshapeisveryoriginaland quiteaesthetic,becauseitlinkstofood andtothekitchen. -Theroundshapemaximizesthe usablespace,becausethereisnoroom lostincorners. -Thesizeisquitegood,it’snottoobig andbecauseitisround,itcouldalsobe placedinacorner. -Thereisspaceforbottlesofherbs andspicesandalsofortools. -Theshapeswouldbeeasytomake usingalasercutterandIcoulduse laminatedwood,whichwehaveat school. -Thisobviouslyisn’tacomplete kitchenorganizer,butthereisagood ideatosavespacebystackingthe spicesontopofeachother. -Glasscontainersarestylishandyou canalwaysseewhichspiceisinwhich container. -Thiswouldbequiteeasyto incorporateinadesign. -Theorganizerismadeoutofwood,a materialthatisavailabletomeand easytodecorate. -Theshapeoftheorganizerisoriginal anditallowsforspacefortoolsandfor herbs. -Sinceitisinabox-shapeandtheback oftheboxdoesn’tserveforanything,it canbeputagainstawallandspacecan besaved.
Disadvantages -Thereisnoroomforacookbook. -Theroundformmaybespace-saving, butifthereisnowaytoturntheapple aroundwithoutpickingitup,itmightbe difficult.Itmayalsobetooheavytolift up. -Alsoifthereisnowaytoturnit,you can’tputitinacornerandthespacesavingformisnegated. -Thereisnospaceincludedforfresh herbs.
-Iwouldhavetobytheglasscontainers, becauseIdon’thaveawaytomake theminschool,andIwouldliketomake allthepartsmyself. -Thewaytheyarestackedmaymakeit hardertoaccesstheherbs.
-Thereisn’tenoughspaceforthespices andherbs. -Thespaceisalsonotveryhandyfor puttingawaytools. -Itseemslike,eventhoughitisoriginal, thespaceisnotverywelldivided.Ifthe drawershadbeenplaceddifferently, theremighthavebeenmoreroomfor others. -Therealsoisn’tanyroomfora cookbook. -Itisquitebigsoitcanbeusedtofita -Itistoobigtofitonthekitchen lotofthings.Thereisevenroomfor counter,soithastoberolledonthe knives. floor. -Thereareseveralspacesfortoolsand -Theuseofmetalinthedesigncan herbsandspices,anditisveryspacecauseproblems,becausewedon’thave saving,astheusercanassemblethe waystoworkwithitatschool. organizertotheirwishes. -Sincetheorganizerisbig,itwould -Movingcompartmentscouldbe probablytaketoomuchtimetomake usefulinmydesign. forthisproject. -Th -Thes ese ear are emo more rea acc cces esso sori ries esf for ora a -It -Itw wou ould ldb be eha hard rdt to oma make ket the hem met etal al 18
Research Rese arch:As :As ect3 “Kitchen Accessories”
6 “Newspaper Holder”
7 “Chalkboard Shelf”
kitchenorganizerthantheactualthing. Therearesomewhichcanbeuseful. -Ilikethehooksforhangingtools. Metalhookswouldbeeasiest,because Icaneithermakethemmyselfwith metalwireorbuythem. -Metalisquiteaestheticallypleasing, andalsoeasytokeepclean. -Insteadoflittledrawerstoputthe spicesinloose,Icouldmake trayswhichyoucanpullout,andput littleglasscontainersonthemforthe herbsandspices. -Thesizeandformoftheproductis feasible.Itisn’ttoobigforonakitchen counter.Also,thebackisnotused,soit canbeputagainstawalltosavespace. -Thereisroomtoputtoolsupright. -Thereareafewdrawers -Itwouldbefairlysimpletomakein school.Theshapescanbecutoutbya lasercutterorjustwithanelectric saw. -Itlooksplain,butitwouldbeeasyto decoratewithpaintorcarvings. -Themainthingthatattractedme herewasthechalkboard.Itcouldbe usedforthegroceryshoppinglistor justthingstoremember.
wiringforthesmalltrays.Iwouldhave tobuyit. -Imightwanttoincludesomemetal, butsincethemainbodywillbemade outofwood,Idon’twanttoincludetoo manydifferentmaterials.àeaseof disassembly
-Thereisonlyroomforacookbookto beputintheback,closed.Soyou wouldn’tbeabletouseitwhileyou cook. -Therearen’tenoughdrawersfor spicesandthereisn’tenoughroomfor herbs. -Itlooksalittlebulky.
-Thisorganizeristoolong,itmightnot beabletofitoneachcounter. -Thereisn’tenoughstoringspacefor herbsandspices.
Results
The designs that will be most useful to me and my design are the ‘apple’ and the ‘newspaper holder’. The apple shows could use of the space provided and compactness. The other design shows good use of the space in the box.
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Aspect 2: Data Collection Colle ction Which material to use for the kitchen organizer? The shapes that I will be cutting out from the materials won’t be complicated, so they’ll be easy to cut out with the laser cutter and there will be no problem whatever material I choose. I think it would be best to make the organizer out of wood, for one because of the aesthetical value and because it would be easy to manipulate. manipulate.
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Laminated wood
Laminated wood will be the easiest to use in my design. We have it readily available at school and we also have the hardware I will need to work the wood. Laminated Laminated wood is good for in the kitchen because it is quite strong and it is easy to work with. It will also be easy to finish because it will just need some varnish and paint if I want. However it might not be as waterproof as other materials.
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MDF
There are a number of reasons why MDF may be used instead of plywood or chipboard. It is dense, flat, stiff, has no knots and is easily machined. Because it is made up of fine particles it does not have an easily recognizable surface grain. MDF can be painted to produce a smooth quality surface. Because MDF has no grain it can be cut, drilled, machined machined and filed without damaging the surface. MDF may be dowelled together and traditional woodwork joints may even even be cut. cut. MDF may be glued together with PVA wood glue. Oil, water-based paints and varnishes may be used on MDF. Veneers and and laminates may may also be used used to finish MDF MDF •
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Disadvantages of MDF? •
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MDF can be fixed together with screws and nails but the material may split if care is not taken. If you are screwing, the screws should not be any further than 25mm in from the edge. When using screws always use pilot holes. MDF needs to be sealed before it can be painted. The urea formaldehyde which is used to glue the wood chips together may release fumes that can be harmful if inhaled. When cutting and working the wood, caution needs to be taken.
Pilot Holes Pilot holes are made with a very small drill, drill, so that the the screw can be guided into the material without breaking it. The head of the screw would then rest in the countersink.
Ecological considerations •
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Plywood is made of layers of wood that would be thrown away, so plywood is ecologically friendly. MDF can be seen to be even better for the environment, because it is made with scraps and loose fibers, which would otherwise be waste.
Aspect 3: Data Analysis Ana lysis Plywood - Available at school - Strong - The surface might be damaged when cut or drilled - Material may split when drilled - Good for the environment à
MDF - Available at school - Stronger - Because there is no grain the surface won’t be damaged - May be split when drilled - Better for the environment
I will choose MDF
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Aspect 2: Data Collection Colle ction Making the trays The trays that will be holding the loose herbs need a few qualities: For ease of use they need to be easy to clean. This is in all intents and purposes a kitchen tool, and when working with food, things need to stay hygienic. They also need to be light, so that they are easily moved. Because they need to be slid in and out of their slots, it should be material that is smooth and has minimal resistance when being dragged over another surface. It also needs to be non-reactive to other substances like cleaning agents. It should be long-lasting, without effects like rust in the case of metal, to keep the trays hygienic. •
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Glass Advantages Glass is non-reactive non-reactive to outside pressures Glass doesn’t react to time It is easily maintained and cleaned When finished correctly it is smooth It can be made in any shape It is hard It can be colorless or colored It has high aesthetical value • • • • • • • •
Disadvantages It is very heavy I don’t have the facilities at school to melt glass in the shapes I need. Even if I bought panes of glass, it would be hard to cut the necessary shapes out of it Glass is expensive and not available at school It is very brittle • •
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Acrylic Advantages: Acrylic is easily easily shaped when heated heated and when it cools it will will hold the shape Very easy to cut using the laser cutter cutter It is easy to machine; drill, cut without damage to the material It can be any color or transparent It is tough and holds its color even after prolonged periods of time It weighs 50% less than glass It is easy to clean and has the appearance of glass It can be melted together using liquid solvent cement and be very strong It is available at school • • • • • • • • •
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Research:Aspect2 Disadvantages: It could scratch, it is not as hard as glass In thin sheets it might crack • •
Glass
Liquid solvent cement doesn’t glue two surfaces together, but it melts the surfaces of plastics so that they are fixed to each other.
Acrylic
Aspect 3: Data Analysis Ana lysis Glass or Acrylic? I believe the advantages of using acrylic for the trays are greater than those of using glass. Glass would be nice to look at because it has high aesthetical value, however it would be expensive and hard to machine. à
I will use acrylic for the trays
Aspect 2: Data Collection Colle ction Making something to hold tools I will probably be making a basket. The material I need to make the basket need to be fairly stiff, at least the bottom needs to be, so that it can hold the kitchen tools. That is why I am considering using metal wire. •
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It would be quite easy to cut out the simple forms that I will need with wire cutters This type of chicken wire has smaller meshes, so tools wouldn’t fall fall though the the bottom It is easy to find at a DIY store It can be bent into shape, but it will hold its its shape when when fastened correctly.
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Research:Aspect2
Choosing the color and style To choose which color I will paint the organizer I need to consider one of my specifications; it needs to fit in any kitchen. Therefore the colors should be fairly neutral; however I don’t want to just paint it white because that would be quite boring. The style I want to go for is ‘vintage kitchenware’, because I feel that it gives a warm and ‘homey’ feel, and that is the essence of cooking.
Characteristics of Vintage Kitchenware Products are usually made out of iron, wood or porcelain. This is how kitchen tools were made before the introduction of plastic and super alloys. This makes the tools look very sturdy and it gives them charm. The colors are very warm and soft. Usually they are natural colors like brown, olive green, creamy white or light blue. •
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Since I have already decided to use MDF and metal wire on the outside of my organizer, I can say that so far my materials are in line with the look I am going for. The only thing I need to decide is which color color to paint it.
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Research:Aspect2
In this sample sheet, the warm colors are the second and last columns. I want the color to be warm and soft, so I think an olive green would be most suitable. The color I will be looking for should be somewhere between ‘New Green’ and ‘Pepper Grass’.
The outside will be olive green, but I want the inside to be a different color, and it should be lighter, so white would be best. However there are many different variations of white, and and to continue continue with my ‘warm’ theme, theme, I want want to go for a creamy white. From the whites shown shown on this sample sheet sheet I would pick pick the one called ‘Minced ‘Minced Onions’ Onions’ because it it would turn out quite nice. nice.
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Research:Aspect2
Wood for a cutting board This was not included in my initial design specifications, but I would like to keep my options open. If I would include a cutting board in my design I would have to find some type of material that would be appropriate. Wood
Wood is somewhat self-healing, meaning that shallow cuts in the wood will close up on their own. Wood also has natural anti-septic properties. Hardwoods with tightly grained wood and small pores are best for wooden cutting boards. Good hardness and tight grain help reduce scoring of the cutting surface and absorption of liquid and dirt into the surface. Example Teak's tight grains and natural coloration make it a highly attractive cutting-board material, both for aesthetic and durability purposes. Teak, a tropical wood, contains tectoquinones ; components of natural oily resins that repel moisture, fungi, warping, rot and microbes. Considerations Wood boards need to be cared for with mineral oil to avoid warping, and should not be left in puddles of liquid. Care must be taken when selecting wood, especially tropical hardwood, for use as a cutting board, as some species contain toxins or allergens. •
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Bamboo Bamboo absorbs very little moisture. This means that any cutting board made from bamboo is far less prone to warping and cracking than boards made from traditional woods. Bamboo does not harbor bacteria easily. Because Bamboo is hard and non-porous, there is little chance of bacteria entering the wood along with water or other fluids. Bamboo is more durable than hardwood. While bamboo is technically a grass, the wood that is is harvested from from the massive massive shoots is in fact harder harder than maple or oak. This means that even the sharpest cooking knives will not easily scar it. Considerations Bamboo grows incredibly fast, but because the shoots are often quite thin, it can only be used when laminated. In this way there isn’t much waste and it is very ecofriendly. •
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Plastic The softer surface of plastic boards is scored by knives, and the resulting grooves and cuts in the surface harbor bacteria even after being well washed. A plastic surface surface can also ruin the sharp sharp edge of the the knife. However, unlike wood, plastic boards do allow rinsing with harsher cleaning chemicals chemicals such as a s bleach and other disinfectants without damage to the board or retention of the chemicals to later contaminate food. Example Plastic cutting boards are usually made out of polyethylene. •
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Aspect 3: Data Analysis Ana lysis Waterabsorbency
Harbor of bacteria
Damaging to knives
Durability
Hardwood
Medium
Medium
Low
Medium
Bamboo
Very low
Very low
Low
High
Plastic
None
Medium
Medium
High
Aspect 2: Data Collection Colle ction CAD/CAM Software CorelDraw X3 CorelDraw is a program that allows you to draw designs in 2D, which can then be cut out by the laser cutter. It is very easy to use and it would be suited for my project.
ProDesktop ProDesktop is a 3D designing tool that can give you an idea of what your product will look like when it is finished. Using this could help me figure out measurements and proportions. Hardware Laser Cutter I will be using the laser cutter for most of my materials. This machine works very fast and it can cut many materials, MDF and acrylic would be no problem.
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Aspect 3: Data Analysis Ana lysis Final Product Specifications Design Brief:
“Designakitchenstationarydockthatwouldholdseveralesse “Designakitchenstationarydockthatwould holdseveralessential ntial cookingtools,tofacilitatethecookingprocessforhousewives.By holdingtogetherallthebasicelementsofame holdingtogetherallthe basicelementsofameal,theproductshould al,theproductshould motivatetheusertocook.”
Initial Specifications Mo di fi ca ti on s •
The product must be fit for any kitchen
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The product must be able to fit on a kitchen counter
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The dimensions of the product may be between 50x30x40cm
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The product can’t be too heavy.
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The product might focus on one type of cuisine. This would be too much work so I will focus on European style cooking The product can be made out of wood à MD F The product must have ways to hang up cooking tools In st ea d of ha ng in g up th ey wi ll be pu t in a ba s ke t on t he si de of th e organizer, made out of metal wire.
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The product needs to have a way to contain herbs and spices in spices in ac r yl ic tr ay s The cost of the product can’t be too high
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The product should be easy to clean in order to s tay hygienic
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The product should be safe
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The product might include a cutting board
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