Flow Dinnerware
An ergonomic, easy-to-hold dinnerware set designed for people with limited hand and grip strength
Spring 2023
Three Months Senior Year
In this article, I delve into my research process and how I used user-centered design to guide my design process while creating Flow dinnerware specifically for people with arthritis!
Inclusive Design
CHALLENGE
How can we help people with arthritis feel more confident and independent in their kitchens?
approach
When looking into problems people with arthritis faced in the kitchen, many individuals expressed frustration with the strength of their grip weakening as they got older especially when it came to handling their dishware. Looking at the current solutions market, I found that most dishwear can be difficult to hold and wash for those with limited hand strength and that dishware designed specifically with elders in mind was cheap and child-like and did not fit into a sophisticated adult’s lifestyle.
Who are older adults?
People 65 years and older and still full of life!
Generally have loss of muscle and physical strength
As you get older,
Simple, everyday tasks can get harder and harder to complete on your own…
Especially in the Kitchen
Lack of Grip
Fear of dropping slippery dishes due to lack of grip
Heavy Dishware
Heavy dishes can be difficult to hold and move around
Problems
“Sometimes when i’m holding a full plate of food, even that will fall out of my grasp.”
Kate Chu, 77
“Everything gets so hard to hold when you get older. Even little things like doing the dishes can get discouraging.”
Mary Scheele, 72
Sarah Ludlem, 73
How can we find a way for elders to feel confident and sophisticated when using their dinnerware?
Solution
Easy to hold, ergonomic dinnerware
User Testing
Introducing…
Flow Dinnerware
Rethinking how we hold our dishes
A unique, asymmetrical dish set designed to redistribute the weight of your dinnerware
Thumb Notch allows the hand to extend further in the dish to support more weight
Stackable Design
The unique asymmetrical curvature of the dish set stacks to complement your dinner table