bud. container
JAMES DYSON AWARD
Bud , is an ergonomic food container and utensil combo meant for the people with hand disabilities, such as arthritis, who struggle with food prep. Issues of dexterity can often exacerbate malnutrition in vulnerable groups, such as the elderly. This project was designed by my team (Jason Li, Emily Sciarrone, Jinzhi Ye) for the James Dyson Award Competition in Spring of 2022.
Bud. container
Ideation
thumbnail sketches
In our thumbnail sketches, we explored different kinds of handles, container types, and container and handle forms that can help people with hand disabilities prepare food and eat better.
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form 1 - tray/ wrist handles
The first design included wrist handles so that a person could hold it up without the use of their hands. It also included a removable tray.
form 2 - Stackability
The shape was inspired by Blobism and designed to incorporate the curvature of the side wrist handles into the overall shape as well as tesselate so the containers can be easily stackable.
form 3 - Space Efficiency
In our final design form, we realized the wish bone shape was not very space efficient and redesigned the form to take advantage of the space between each container.
Creating a Fun aesthetic
Many products within the mobility and assistive aid space often lack excitement and can feel overly medical and prescriptive. It was very important for us for Bud. to have a fun and interesting aesthetic. We were inspired by the Blobism movement of the 90s and wanted to include bright colors and fun organic shapes. The shape also serves a functional purpose by seamlessly incorporating the curvature of the side wrist handles and tessellating so the containers can be easily stackable.
WRIST
HANDLES
wrist
handles
Side handles allow container to be held with just wrists.
STACKABLE
DESIGN
stackable
design
Circular base allow containers to be stacked in any orientation.
cuisine
variety
cuisine
variety
With a variety of dishwasher-safe removable trays types, bud is adaptable to all types of cuisine and diets.
safety
features
safety
features
Rubberized bottom to provide stability and prevent slippage while being use.
Logo made out of thermo-chromatic material to indicate through shade if the container is safe to touch.
modular
utensils
modular
utensils
Multiple replaceable handle types for users to choose preferable handle type.
submission
BUD.
Container
submission
Handles
Removable Trays
features
utensils