Industrial - Bachelors
My design adapts a hot water urn to be more
sustainable and better suited in a private
home context for those with arthritis.
Standard rocker switches and buttons cause great pain for arthritic fingers, as does putting strain on the wrist from lifting heavy items - such as full saucepans and kettles. Additionally, it is unsustainable to not be able to use appliances to the full capacity when they expend the same amount of energy each use.
My solution is to remove the weight
bearing and tipping aspect of kettles, raising it to allow the user to slide both mugs and saucepans under and
fill the tap and fill.
Elongated to give extra leverage thusly requiring minimal force to turn, this handle may also be comfortably shifted using any part of the arm, hand or wrist. This gives options to those with arthritis to avoid pressuring painful points wherever they may be located, or however severe at that time.
Avoiding the notedly painful standard ‘rocker’ switches (typically used in lightswitches) or buttons – both of which transferring kinetic force to finger joints – the toggle switch maintains the two stable on/off positions however is easily flicked and does not rebound pressure on the hand.
A handy combination of urn and kettle, this design harnesses the benefits of both worlds.
From kettles:
+ applicable to private home settings
+ more sustainable energy usuage – only boil when needed
From urns:
+ holds more water
+ no lift (removes weightbearing aspect of tipping kettles)
+ tap providing more predictable pouring point, lessening chance of burns and spillage
The attractive semi-organic semi-geometric design is mix of modern and vintage aesthetics.
The concave front provides a natural and practical visual indication (and extra room) for placement of rounded mugs and pots, under the tap.
Raising the urn allows the user to slide the mug or alternative water vessel below the tap, erasing the need to place urns at the edge of tables and continuously lift the increasing weight of a filling pot.
Additionally, the A profile provides stability against tipping as the width extends slightly further than the body.
A highly unique and attractive feature, the windows retain visibility for visual confirmation of the boil and also water level.
This lid provides a wide, sturdy handle with generous clearance for stiff joints as my research participants preferred.
The large opening allows for shakey water filling and also enables easy cleaning.
Abigail Lawrence is an Industrial Designer with a passion for creating beautiful products that enhance the daily lives of the users.