GravitATE Talheres by Yueyue Zhang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award de Bronze in Design de Formas de Forno, Louça, Copos e Panelas Competition Category.

BronzeUtensílios de Cozinha· 2020

GravitATE Talheres

by Yueyue Zhang

Client: Yueyue Zhang

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

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #89275

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About GravitATE Talheres

Um conjunto de talheres que convida e incentiva os usuários a compartilhar interações e comer devagar. GravitATE contém três louças pessoais e três tigelas de serviço. Tem potencial para movimento e interação interpessoal. O formulário convida e incentiva os usuários a compartilhar essas interações de forma intuitiva. O resultado é que os usuários demoram, compartilhando conversas e saboreando a comida mais lentamente do que com os utensílios de mesa tradicionais. Isso proporciona uma experiência gastronômica positiva para todos.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Bronze

GravitATE Talheres conquistou o A' Design Award de Bronze, um reconhecimento altamente prestigiado atribuído a designs notáveis que se distinguem pela criatividade, engenho e perspicácia. Os vencedores do Bronze são artefactos amplamente habilidosos e surpreendentemente criativos que comprovam a vasta experiência, imaginação e capacidade de iniciativa dos seus designers. Espera-se que GravitATE Talheres seja um objeto muito considerado, admirado e estimado, notavelmente profissional e inovador. Este design vencedor do A' Design Award de Bronze incorpora as melhores práticas em arte, ciência, design e tecnologia e é excelente pela sua atenção ao detalhe. GravitATE Talheres satisfaz esplendidamente necessidades, toca desejos, encanta sentimentos e desperta curiosidade.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: A tableware set that invites and encourages users to share interactions and eat slowly. GravitATE contains three personal dinnerware items and three service bowls. It has the potential for movement and interpersonal interaction. The form invites and encourages users to share these interactions intuitively. The result is that users take their time, sharing conversation and savoring food slower than with traditional tableware. This provides a positive dining experience for all.
Dimensions & Packaging: Service bowl No.1 (polyhedron): Width 185mm x Depth 185mm x Height 120mm
Service bowl No.2 (Main image): Width 245mm x Depth 165mm x Height 70mm
Service bowl No.3 (Image #1): Width 175mm x Depth 175mm x Height 120mm
Personal tableware (Bottom): Width 175mm x Depth 175mm x Height 50mm
Personal tableware (Middle): Width 160mm x Depth 160mm x Height 55mm
Personal tableware (Top): Width 115mm x Depth 115mm x Height 58mm
Tags: Tableware, Dining experience, Interaction, Slow eating, Sharing
Production Technology: 3D-scanning and 3D-printing are two key digital tools to support my design. It is a circular design process:
1. Pick a direction(idea 1.0)
2. Build a quick mock-up using clay or foam
3. Scan the model
4. Digital modeling based on the scan result
5. 3D-printing prototype
6. User testing
7. Rebuild a new idea 2.0 or improve an existing idea1.1
Design Challenge: Through the user testing of the previous concepts, I found that the concepts with the potential for movement are more inviting. However, how to combine the design of tableware is a big challenge: Does the product help users to eat slowly? Does it invite the user to interact with it? Does it contain food well? Does It create an interesting experience? Does it suit for dining environment?
Research: This design originated from a recent dining phenomenon, which people are ignoring their dining experience but more focused on their phones, and finish the meal faster and faster. Firstly, literature research, observation, and interviews with the target users were conducted. I found that more interactions and slow eating can improve dining experiences. Then, the market research of restaurants helped me to sum up the factors that influence user behavior and experiences.
Inspiration: Eating with others and eating slowly can create a positive dining experience. Nowadays, people are getting busy with their work, which makes it harder for them to eat together and also, they are unwilling to spend much time eating.
Project Duration: The project started in August 2018 and finished in April 2019 in Rochester, NY.
Operation Flow: According to the different forms of GravitATE, each service bowl produces different ways of movement, so that people can share food in different ways. For example, (Main image) although a person can take food from it independently, the shaking movement can remind other people to provide support. Two of the personal bowls can produce a small amount of sway, and they have been verified by user testing to allow the user to be more focused while eating and to a certain extent avoiding fast eating.