What is it?
Citrik is a fruit/ vegetable knife system that aims to provide both an ergonomic solution as well as a more organic form to the standard kitchen knife. The ergonomics involved within the product stem from an uninterrupted curvature compounded with a fruit inspired form. Heft and precision of the product have been dealt with through the use of ceramic for the knife blade, a much harder and wear resistant material incorporated with long wearing silicon for the handle.
The Target Market
Considerable, through observational studies, is the frustration and unnecessary strain that is met on a regular basis for family women coming into retirement:
- Female
- 60-70 years old
- Active social and family life
- Relative dexterity- able to hold, grasp etc but are affected by age
- Finds pleasure in cooking and gardening
Citrik has been established to provide an alternative to the standard stainless steel knife and all of it's standard intimidating traits. Stainless steel and wooden handles, great for dextrous cooks, dominate current designs and Citrik hopes to provide a more curvilinear, colourful experience to cooking. Comprising of ceramic and silicon found in washing machines, Citrik is durable and has a malleable form able to adapt to the user.
Form has been determined by the needs of the target market where a backbone of silicon reassures the factor of safety to the user, a common prerequisite when choosing a knife.
Form also has the ability to act as a reminder to the user, where subtle cues in the product point the user toward healthier food alternatives rather then otherwise. Here the consumer is creating their own satisfaction aided by the product by both eating healthier compounded with a satisfaction in preparing their own food.
Project Posters:
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4 comments:
Promoting healthy eating, just one thing this country needs to do more, just topping America in obesity. The Citrik Knife presentation posters was firstly very formal and i thought really brang the message out to expose what the knife was to perform.
The overall form on the knife is very different to conventional stainless steel knifes, but i think the form is a very innovative design. As the target market was aimed towards the elderly, minimising the effort to cut objects, would certainly create a more pleasurable experience to the user. Green as the color of the handle would be suitable due to the nature of what the knife is used to cut. The choice of ceramic for the blade is also evident that research was carried out to investigate the additional properties this solid could provide to the knife.
I'm quite a fan of the design. To me the knife is very aesthetically pleasing due to its functional package in a very simple but playful design. I also like the idea of a range of colours of knife to promote a more joyful experience rather than the existing (and boring) steel knife.
I think that for the elderly, wrist posture is a huge factor looked into when buying a knife maybe due to arthritus and other mobility issues and citrik provides this change from existing knife handles. However i think that the design could greatly benefit from a more ergonomic or just rounded handle to suit the contours of the hand a little better.
Overall the knife achieves what traditional knives do not in not only functional experiences but also in aesthetic and visceral appeal.
i like the idea of having a subconscious reminder to eat healthy through the form of the knife. the additional factor of safety in the silicon backbone is also an interesting feature as it adds a level of reassurance to the user, resulting in a better experience.
the design could be improved perhaps by increasing the radius on the edges of the handle to reduce any pressure points from the handle if it were to be gripped quite firmly.
Citrik is definately quite innovative, you've not only delved into function, you've also thought of the design that can promote a healthier lifestyle. However what a truly find fascinating about the product the most is the way you’ve designed the blade so it’s easier for the elderly to produce food. This leaves the user quite pleasant both physically and mentally satisfied. Which is quite nice. What I think you should improve the product on however is the handle, it looks quite bulky, could be more round at the end perhaps.
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