Iedde Faca para Mexilhões by Giuliano Ricciardi

Iedde Faca para Mexilhões by Giuliano Ricciardi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award de Ouro in Design de Formas de Forno, Louça, Copos e Panelas Competition Category.

OuroUtensílios de Cozinha· 2023

Iedde Faca para Mexilhões

by Giuliano Ricciardi

Client: Iedde

A' Design Award de Ouro Winner in Utensílios de Cozinha Category

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The Design

About Iedde Faca para Mexilhões

Iedde é uma faca para mexilhões, criada para abrir suas conchas. O projeto é um redesenho da grammella, uma ferramenta tradicional de Taranto, na Itália. O cabo tem formato que se acomoda no interior da palma da mão. A lâmina acompanha a curva da empunhadura e se une à base. A forma curva mantém a ferramenta na posição correta, de modo que não é preciso inclinar a mão. A lâmina é cortada a laser a partir de uma chapa de aço inoxidável e temperada em forno. O cabo é feito de madeira de oliveira. Lâmina e cabo são unidos por dois pinos.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Ouro

Iedde Faca para Mexilhões conquistou o A' Design Award de Ouro, um reconhecimento imensamente prestigiado atribuído a designs de primeira linha, maravilhosos e notáveis. Os vencedores do Ouro são criações extremamente inovadoras, visionárias e glamorosamente deslumbrantes, que refletem o prodígio, a sabedoria e a proeza dos seus designers. Espera-se que Iedde Faca para Mexilhões seja uma invenção muito elogiada, pioneira e monumental, que oferece um valor sem precedentes. Este design vencedor do A' Design Award de Ouro é um projeto espetacular e respeitado, que beneficia muito e faz avançar as fronteiras da arte, da ciência, do design e da tecnologia. Iedde Faca para Mexilhões cria sentimentos intensos de desejo, evoca paixão, incentiva a criatividade e fascina-nos.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The Grammella, a typical object of Taranto (Italy), is a tool used to shell mussels. Iedde is the result of a redesign operation focused on the analysis of the traditional grammella, its use, the geographical context and the mussel. The ergonomics of the tool, oriented towards a shape easy to handle, derives from the handle, whose shapes lend themselves to being received in the palm and from the blade that arises spontaneously following the curve of the grip, to connect harmoniously to the base
Dimensions & Packaging: Width mm 125 x Depth mm 36 x Height mm 25
Tags: knife, mussels knife, kitchen tool, handmade, handcrafted, traditional, wood, iron, professional, mussel
Production Technology: The blades, in ma5mv stainless steel, were obtained from a 2 mm sheet metal with laser cutting technology, and hardened with heat treatment in the oven. The olive wood handle was made with a cnc machine. The components, blade and handle, were then assembled in a sandwich structure with 2 through pins and finally everything was finished with manual and bench equipment. Each piece was then branded and numbered with laser engraving
Design Challenge: The redesign of a traditional and authorless object, born from a necessity and not from a project, always represents an exciting challenge full of pitfalls because, overcoming simplicity and economy isn't never so simple. The main obstacle was that of the diffidence of sector operators in testing the prototypes. Mussel farmers and restaurateurs, accustomed to the use of traditional grammella, appreciated the qualities of Iedde only after assessing the effectiveness of the innovations introduced.
Research: Historical research has been oriented towards territorial uses and traditions, thus identifying the traditional grammella as the representative instrument of the maritime culture of Taranto. Interviews with mussel farmers and restaurateurs highlighted the weak points of the traditional grammella, once they were resolved, study sketches were made and then some prototypes to refine the instrument's characteristics. The result is Iedde destined to become a modern gift for the city of Taranto
Inspiration: The Taranto black mussel was recognized as Slow Food Presidium and in honor of this it was decided to make a re-edition of the traditional grammella. The mussel inspired the shape of the handle from which the whole instrument derives. A current image has been given to an anonymous design object born from necessity and not from a project. Iedde, with its shape, function and materials, isn't just a grammella, but an iconic object that refers to traditions and territory; a tangible visual message
Project Duration: The project started in April 2022 in Taranto and finished in September 2022 in Taranto. The prototype was exhibited at the Ego Festival in Taranto in September 2022. In December 2022, 100 numbered pieces were produced and sold upon reservation and in February 2023, mass production was started for the national and international market. On February 28th it was exhibited at the Amoris Terrae event c/o Fasano (Brindisi - Italy)
Operation Flow: Iedde must be placed in the palm of the hand that closes around it. The blade is then inserted into the mussel and shells it with a back and forth movement, releasing the fruit enclosed inside (see the video). It works better than the traditional grammella thanks to the new shape of the handle and the curved shape which places the instrument in the right position, as opposed to the traditional version which, being linear, forced the user to tilt the hand (see the documentation).
Patents: Pending patent. UIBM n° 402023000000147. Giuliano Ricciardi. 2023. Italian
Team Members: Giuliano Ricciardi
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Giuliano Ricciardi, Iedde 01, 2023
Image #2: Photographer Giuliano Ricciardi, Iedde Combo, 2023
Image #3: Photographer Giuliano Ricciardi, Iedde 02, 2023
Image #4: Photographer Giuliano Ricciardi, Iedde with mussels, 2023
Image #5: Photographer Giuliano Ricciardi, Iedde packaging, 2023