Cutting with Care

Many parents struggle to find safe and effective tools that aid in introduce young children to helping in the kitchen.

My goal was to create a product that caters to the developmental needs of children aged 3-5, allowing them to safely engage in cooking activities while building confidence and essential skills.

Objective:
To design a safe and ergonomic tool that introduces children to kitchen activities, promoting skill development and family bonding.

Specific Objectives:

Ensure the tool prioritizes safety through child-friendly materials and design.

Enable a gradual learning process using a 4-stage blade system.

Use different materials to incorporate sensory engagement to foster tactile development.

Collaborate with engineers to optimize manufacturing processes.

Through the ideation phase, I explored the idea of a up to four stages of blades for progressive learning.

Focused on creating a tool that balances functionality, safety, and aesthetics using wood-metal harmony.

Investigated material properties of:

Aluminum:

Stimulates brain activity and offers tactile feedback.

Wood:

Familiar, relaxing, and antimicrobial properties.

A utensil that brings wood and metal together in harmony would really stand out in the market.

Engagement:

Children gain confidence and motor skills while bonding with their parents in the kitchen.

Skill Development:

Gradual progression ensures children are prepared for regular kitchen tools.

Market Gap:

Unique combination of wood and metal offers a standout product in the kids’ culinary tools market.

Manufacturing Process - Collaboration with Engineers

Redesigned metal inlays to eliminate sharp edges, ensuring safe handling and making manufacturing easier.

Used CAD software to create detailed handle and blade models.

Material Integration:

Combined CNC machining for aluminum components with wood milling for precision and durability.

Optimized manufacturing for seamless assembly and scalability.

Testing & Iteration:

Conducted usability tests with parents and children to refine ergonomics and ensure safety.

Final Design:

4-Stage Knife System: Gradual progression from beginner to advanced cutting skills.

Materials:

- Birch plywood and Red Oak: Antimicrobial, heat-stable, and eco-friendly.

- Aluminum: Tactile, lightweight, and safe for children.

Created blade for each developmental stage:
Basic up-and-down cutting (Stage 1).
Vertical movements with control (Stage 2).
Traditional slicing motions (Stage 3).
Versatile, pointed-tip cutting (Stage 4).

Final CAD Model

Final Physical Model