2025
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Studio Sprint
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Kitchenware
How can a single block of wood be transformed into a functional, ergonomic tool through the disciplined study of curvilinear form, surface transitions, and hand-tool interaction? This project challenged me to synthesize observational research, sculptural intuition, and precision fabrication to create a spatula that communicates use through form alone.
01 — Research & Form Development
This project began with an open prompt: create a functional spatula whose form clearly communicates its purpose. Inspired by 'mechanomorphism' (the tendency to perceive human behavior in mechanical terms) I approached the utensil as an extension of the arm rather than a generic kitchen tool.
I studied the rotation of the ulna and radius, then translated that movement into a form designed to shift, rotate, and apply pressure naturally.
Sketches, orthographic drawings, and foam models helped refine the proportions, grip, and transitions before the final form was made in wood.
02 — Fabrication & Refinement
Fabrication was limited to four bandsaw cuts, with half of the resulting edges required to remain sharp and untouched. This constraint made every cut intentional, defining where material could be removed and where the original geometry needed to remain.
Sanding became the primary shaping method, used to sculpt the subtle curves that guide the palm, thumb, and weight of the utensil. Through repeated testing in hand, the final spatula became an agile, responsive tool whose surfaces support movement and control while demonstrating how anatomy, material, and constraint can inform a precise functional form.
The final spatula was sculpted as a seamless extension of the human forearm, with each curve formed to imitate the rotational dynamics of the ulna and radius. By distributing material to support agility, grip, and directional control, the form balances aesthetic elegance with biomechanical precision. This enables intuitive, full-body engagement in scraping, lifting, and flipping tasks.
