KitchenAid
a mixing device with supportive technology to help people who struggle with cooking.
KitchenAid is a home appliance brand owned by Whirlpool Corporation. The stand mixer is the ultimate tool for all your mixing needs in the kitchen, with a range of different uses and attachment heads.
With a range of sizes, colors, and bowl options, the perfect addition to the collection would be a mixing device with supported development features to help those who need it more.
vibrant
sturdy
smooth
together
how can technology help guide people with weak motor skills through the cooking motions they can no longer easily complete?
audience
a natural part of aging involves muscle deterioration. after age 30, we begin to lose as much as 5% of our muscle strength every decade. most experts would agree that this muscle loss will affect everyone by the age of 75, causing people to slowly lose their independence by having to rely on others to help with the simplest tasks.
opportunity #1
there are universal utensil grip products for people with weak motor skills, but there are not a lot of products that would give people with a disadvantage, equal opportunity to do the actual cooking part in the kitchen,
there is a multitude of emotional benefits that come from cooking, and having to rely on another person to help you with tasks can take a toll on one's mental health. having the ability to be independent can be beneficial not only physically, but mentally- but not everyone has that opportunity.
opportunity #2
soft and sturdy
looking at other kitchen brands, this product should have a warm and inviting aesthetic and be a strong, reliable device.
versatile
this product should work easier for people with weaker motor skills, but still be accessible to everyone and the attachment should fit more than one product.
this product needs to be straightforward to make the work easier for users.
easy to use
effective
using this product should not hinder the actual cooking process. it should be just as effective as a technology-free method, if not better.
smart device
the device needs to utilize technology in a way that helps guide users through the task they've set out to do.
restricted
benchmarking
what kitchen mixers already exist on the market that help people with weak muscles or motor skills? are they versatile or restricted to use by a certain kind of person?
universal
simple
complex
S.E.T. factors... when together, represent the product opportunity gaps
social
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people are trying to make more meals out of what they have at home to avoid going out during the pandemic.
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not everyone has the same capabilities when it comes to being independent in normal, daily tasks.
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reevaluating existing products and seeing where the opportunity areas are to improve upon them.
economic
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affordable for everyone
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work/product efficiency
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safe for all ages to use
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practicality of the product
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used for multiple purposes
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long-lasting durability
tech.
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utilizing technology of some sort in the product to further help users with mobility.
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this product is not intended to slow down the cooking process but should be just as, if not, more efficient.
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this product is accessible for everyone to use and doesn't have an intended age group.
benefits
how is it beneficial to provide everyone, regardless of age or disability, with the same opportunity as others in the kitchen?
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mental health
both cooking and baking are known by psychologists to be therapeutic because they fit a type of therapy known as behavioral activation". by doing so, they alleviate depression.
independence
everybody needs food to survive, and for most, cooking is a part of their daily tasks. to have to rely on someone else to do things for you can be draining, both mentally and physically.
activity
instead of viewing cooking as a hobby or reward, many of us have grown to dread it. not a lot realize that cooking is an easy, and simple way to get some exercise in your day and stay healthy.
bean shaped lid that rests on top of the bowl to cover/prevent mess
"nesting" bowls that can sit within one another, and has one universal lid that can fit over them all
interchangeable lid sizes
concept #1
pick bowl size and adjust the attachment length.
stretch lip around bowl lid.
turn device on to desired speed.
concept #2
screw attachment into device, and place food in bowl.
turn device on to desired speed.
rotate device for different angles.
removeable attachment in bottom of bowl to hold food.
concept #3
insert attachment into device lid.
pick bowl size and snap lid into place.
turn device on to desired speed.
I (virtually) interviewed the following people and presented them with the previous sketches, gathering feedback from each interviewee.
meet mary...
hover to reveal feedback...
"so convenient not to have to stir it! i don't understand tech though."
"some people might find this helpful... cleanup looks hard with holes."
"a lot of different attachments for the cleanup process."
"[Mary] It's hard for me to move around the kitchen and do much with my hands because of my crutch, so I like setting my kitchen up so I walk around and exert as little energy as possible."
hover to reveal feedback...
"i like it! it's a new idea i haven't seen yet."
"looks less complex than other concepts, and easier to use!"
"not much to like about it... looks like a lot of effort."
"I know of these sisters who are fairly old- but not elderly because they're my age, one of which is in great shape, but the other struggles with tasks because she doesn't try as hard. it's all about the health and condition of a person."
meet pam...
meet
pam...
meet eldon & louis...
hover to reveal feedback...
"this seems too small to do such a powerful task"
"seems to work better for hands and wrists- IF not too hard to get lid off."
"it looks too heavy for quick use... but i like the different sized bowls."
"My sister had an amputated arm and I think that she would have really benefited from being able to hold the bowl with one arm and not have to do anything else."
hover to reveal feedback...
"well, if this actually worked it would be a good device!"
"that looks very cumbersome... does not look like it would be very light at all."
"Everything in my kitchen is so cumbersome, it would be nice to have something light and easy to carry around."
meet kate...
"it's better than having to stretch the lid... lady needs to look younger though!"
how much do you struggle with the following cooking tasks?
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
stirring motions
gripping or wrist movements
applying pressure or picking up appliances
how efficient do you think the devices would be?
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
concept 1
concept 2
concept 3
"why would i give space to an app on my phone that only stirs? it should do more to be worth the download."
"why do i need the bowl for this device? why can't I hold it directly over a cutting board?"
"is there anything in this device that helps scrape down the sides of the bowls? or does that need to manually be done?"
concept 3 was the best well-received design from the people I interviewed. people understood this concept the best and agreed that it fit my design requirements and would be the most practical to move forward with.
concept moving forward
adjust the attachment length according to the depth of chosen bowl.
screw in whisk to the device lid.
twist mixing attachment into bottom of the whisk.
insert device lid onto the bowl and power it on.
device
setup
