The set includes an 8” chef’s knife, a 9” slicer, a 7” cleaver, and a 4” paring knife.

Description

Kitchen knives designed for the pro-sumer, style-conscious market.

Overview

The kitchen is one of the most commonly used rooms in the home. It also contains one of the most primitive tools we use today. However, the innate simplicity ends there. Today’s stores are full of choices ranging in price, size, and function.

This project was an exploration of how to demonstrate a knife’s purpose and market niche, through form. I began by taking existing knives and positioning them onto a chart depicting ranges of price and degree of convention. I chose to focus on the knives that fell into the more expensive, and less-traditional market niche.

Form studies were explored through sketching and blue foam modeling. Later, wood handles were teamed with styrene blades to test ergonomics and visual weight. The final knife set demonstrates a level of sophistication and professionalism, but remains approachable through familiar materials, quality construction, and safety precautions.

The design affords a centered grip for safety and optimum dexterity.

Wood provided an ideal material for ergonomic studies and testing.

The organic shapes suggest the sweeping motion of slicing.