Hazuto 切菜板 by Tom Chan and Melanie Man is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award 銅獎 in 廚具設計 Competition Category.

銅廚具· 2020

Hazuto 切菜板

by Tom Chan and Melanie Man

Client: Hazuto

A' Design Award 銅獎 Winner in 廚具 Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #96521

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The Design

About Hazuto 切菜板

Hazuto是無處不在的廚房板空間上的一種新鮮美學。拉絲金屬邊框將板子束縛起來，防止板子翹曲，裂開，敲擊和掉落。金屬與木材的結合是一種令人愉悅的新觸感體驗。木材的溫暖與朴素的不銹鋼框架形成鮮明對比。螺釘的位置經過特殊處理，以提高工業敏感性。負的角部空間形成了一個方便的鉤子。保留了奇異的形狀，沒有不必要的干擾或添加。結果是一種高效，乾淨，兩色調的形式，既符合人體工程學，又引人注目。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銅獎

Hazuto 切菜板是 A' Design Award 銅獎得主，這是授予以創造力、獨創性和敏銳見長的傑出設計的極具聲望的認可。銅獎得主是技藝嫻熟、創意驚人的作品，印證了其設計師豐富的經驗、想像力與機智。預計Hazuto 切菜板將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的物品，兼具顯著的專業性與創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銅獎的設計融入藝術、科學、設計和技術領域的最佳實踐，並因注重細節而出類拔萃。Hazuto 切菜板出色地滿足需求，觸動渴望，迷住情感，並吸引好奇心。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Wood boards with metal elements or handles are not new. But fit a one-piece steel rim around it, create a corner nook, and you have an on-trend package that works as well as it looks. The aesthetic differentiators here are efficiency and form. No separate handle to disrupt the singular rectangular flow. Functionally, the rim prolongs warping. Knocks and drops are insulated. The austere stainless steel rim contrasts with the warm wood. The screws are characteristically placed to complete an industrial sensibility, communicating sturdiness. This two-tone form is clean and eye catching.
Dimensions & Packaging: 230 x 14 x 325 mm
Width mm x Depth mm x Height mm
Tags: kitchen, cutting, serving, board, wood, hazuto
Production Technology: Black Walnut is selected for the wood type, due to its perfectly moderate hardness (Janka index 1010) that doesn't dull knives nor easily dent. A rich dark colour elevates the board beyond your everyday bamboo board. Edges are carefully rounded for durability and handling comfort. Food-grade 304 stainless steel is used for the rims and screws, to be long lasting and corrosion resistant. The rim has been brushed and polished multiple times, achieving a brushed effect that renders any welds miraculously invisible.
Design Challenge: The concept simplicity and execution are the most challenging parts.
It was not easy to fit the metal rim to be in full contact with the board, especially the corners. Our benchmark was always to have the rim in one continuous piece, as a demonstration of workmanship. We spent a long time testing options to ensure welding spot is invisible. Of many, only one metalworking supplier achieved our satisfaction.
The market variety is a benefit (for research) and a difficulty (to be original). To excite users in an over-saturated category is hard, but our design was readily accepted by our testers.
Research: Research: Online channels (e.g amazon, hktvmall), social media channels, industry reports.
Methodologies: Product Value radar chart, Aesthetic mapping, competitive analysis, small focus group meetings.
Impact on design: size to be small for space-conscious urban kitchens, but big enough for needs of small family. Material to be decorative and high performance (hardness, shape stability). Market analysis suggested to consider gifting, serving, decorating functions as well as everyday cutting. Warping is common issue so the screw locations are chosen to delay warping.
Inspiration: I was partly inspired by the endless technology product varieties that seemed to encompass us now. I am drawn to some of their use of contrasting metallic elements, to bold visual results. The concept culminated from a daydreaming moment, where I thought a chopping board bound by a metal rim could look engaging and robust. Coming from a metal works background myself helped inform the rim specs. Deep dive into online retailers and industry reports gave us user expectations and trends. We ended up prototyping different materials, adjusting dimensions and features before we were happy.
Project Duration: Project started in October 2019, with final design completed by December 2019 and first batch samples made by 2020 January.
Operation Flow: No instruction manuals need to be included for the endless uses of this versatile board! Hazuto board can be used for everyday cutting, or for serving bread, cheese, salad, fruits, steak. On display, it can be hung up or used as a table condiment tray for complementing most atmospheres.
Patents: Design registration pending in Hong Kong and China.
Trademark registration pending in HK and China.
Team Members: Tom Chan
Melanie Man