CUTLERY AND STIGMA
Hendrik Lucka
Hendrik Lucka
2023
Supervisors_ Prof. Gesche Joost, Prof. Axel Kufus, Annika Unger
BA Graduation Project_ Hendrik Lucka
BA Graduation Project_ Hendrik Lucka
For the project „Besteck & Stigma“ I wanted to deal with everyday
objects that all people use. Since food is a fundamental part of our
lives and connects so many different senses, but also has a high social
and cultural value for people, my choice quickly fell on this topic
area.
However, the use of cutlery is not the same for all people. People with motor impairments often have problems grasping and using conventional cutlery. To make it easier for them to use cutlery, there are so-called aids, usually cutlery with large rubber handles, which are intended to make gripping easier. However, these aids can usually not be purchased in conventional stores, but can only be found on the shelves of medical supply stores and their online stores.
While on the one hand there are umpteen designs of cutlery available for every taste and occasion, the choice of utensils is exhaustingly small. Design-wise, these utilities also differ from conventional cutlery. Mediocre cutlery designs are combined with medical-looking handles, which means they may meet functional criteria, but design-wise they fall far short of their potential. This constructs an image that differentiates between people who can use conventional cutlery, who thus conform to the supposed norm, and those who cannot and are dependent on said aids. It seems that not all people have the right to, for example, designer cutlery – simply because they cannot use it.
In my work I try to dissolve this boundary. Why not just make cutlery that connects both groups?
For this I talked to many different people and tried to capture their needs, both people with and without disabilities. In my thesis I write a lot about how important it is to work together with the people for whom a design is being created, which I have tried to do as much as possible.
The result is a cutlery set consisting of knife, fork and spoon that is complemented by a set of three different handles – two silicone, one bronze. The handles can be attached to the handles with hexagonal cross-section in 12 positions and combined with each other. This is to achieve that each one can configure the handle according to their own needs. The silicone handles, whose main functions are grip enlargement and improved slip adhesion, are supplemented by a heavy bronze handle, which, in addition to grip enlargement, is intended above all to help people with tremor to bring more stability to their movements through the additional weight. The spoon’s bowl is nearly round so it can be used equally well from any position, and the fork’s trowel is slightly wider to provide more surface area for picking up food.
I am aware that a cutlery design is not enough to eliminate discrimination and stigmatization of people with disabilities. I am also aware that there will still be people who will not be able to use the product I have designed. This work is also about initiating discourse and questioning existing systems and practices.Medium cutlery designs are combined with
medical-looking handles, which may fulfill functional criteria but fall far short of their design potential.
However, the use of cutlery is not the same for all people. People with motor impairments often have problems grasping and using conventional cutlery. To make it easier for them to use cutlery, there are so-called aids, usually cutlery with large rubber handles, which are intended to make gripping easier. However, these aids can usually not be purchased in conventional stores, but can only be found on the shelves of medical supply stores and their online stores.
While on the one hand there are umpteen designs of cutlery available for every taste and occasion, the choice of utensils is exhaustingly small. Design-wise, these utilities also differ from conventional cutlery. Mediocre cutlery designs are combined with medical-looking handles, which means they may meet functional criteria, but design-wise they fall far short of their potential. This constructs an image that differentiates between people who can use conventional cutlery, who thus conform to the supposed norm, and those who cannot and are dependent on said aids. It seems that not all people have the right to, for example, designer cutlery – simply because they cannot use it.
In my work I try to dissolve this boundary. Why not just make cutlery that connects both groups?
For this I talked to many different people and tried to capture their needs, both people with and without disabilities. In my thesis I write a lot about how important it is to work together with the people for whom a design is being created, which I have tried to do as much as possible.
The result is a cutlery set consisting of knife, fork and spoon that is complemented by a set of three different handles – two silicone, one bronze. The handles can be attached to the handles with hexagonal cross-section in 12 positions and combined with each other. This is to achieve that each one can configure the handle according to their own needs. The silicone handles, whose main functions are grip enlargement and improved slip adhesion, are supplemented by a heavy bronze handle, which, in addition to grip enlargement, is intended above all to help people with tremor to bring more stability to their movements through the additional weight. The spoon’s bowl is nearly round so it can be used equally well from any position, and the fork’s trowel is slightly wider to provide more surface area for picking up food.
I am aware that a cutlery design is not enough to eliminate discrimination and stigmatization of people with disabilities. I am also aware that there will still be people who will not be able to use the product I have designed. This work is also about initiating discourse and questioning existing systems and practices.Medium cutlery designs are combined with
medical-looking handles, which may fulfill functional criteria but fall far short of their design potential.
Text by Hendrik Lucka
