Pasta Organizer
2020
The objective of this second year studio project was to analyze a clutter issue in the home, and design an organizational solution over a four week period.
The problem chosen was the organization of dried pasta in kitchen cupboards and pantries.
The final design is an acrylic pivoting storage container meant as a countertop display piece to showcase pasta's unique shapes. It also alleviates the difficulty of pouring the dry pasta when preparing it.
Problem Analysis
When looking at the problem, two main issues were observed: the organization of the pasta in cupboards, and pouring the pasta from its storage container.
The pasta was stored in an unattractive mix of boxes and bags, which could not be resealed. It was also difficult to quickly find the desired pasta because of the opacity of the packaging.
When pouring the pasta from the storage container, it was difficult to control the flow of the pasta; the spaghetti slid out of the box too quickly and the bags containing smaller pasta collapse on themselves.
Ideation
To help with the clutter issue, having multiple compartments in a single storage unit keeps the pasta more compact. Making the unit transparent helps the user recognize the pasta quickly and allows the beauty of the pasta to be displayed.
To address the pouring issue, the compartments must be big enough for the user to scoop out of with their hand or a measuring cup. For longer pastas, like spaghetti and fettuccini, lifting, rather than pouring, methods were explored.
Prototyping
Low fidelity models were made out of cardboard to test two different concepts. Scale, form, and functionality were explored, and possible improvements were noted.
Reference Images
Material, mechanism, and content references.
Final Model Construction
The final model was made of acrylic tubing and acrylic sheet. To make the elliptical prism shape, a wood mold was constructed and used to thermoform the acrylic tube. The lid components were laser cut, and the tube components were cut to size using the band saw.
Final Model
The final design acts as a functional organizational system to showcase the pasta's beautiful shapes and colours. It houses three varieties of pasta, and can accommodate almost any size or shape of noodle. The organizer swivels and stacks to allow for easy refilling and scooping. Lastly, the spaghetti lift ensures that the user has easy access to long pastas.
Technical Drawings
Technical drawings show the organizer's dimensions, components, movement, and construction.
