I performed various tasks with limited physical and sensory abilities to better understand the challenges a non-able-bodied person might experience with common household devices. The photos above show the experiment of using one hand to cut an avocado.

I began looking at different types of users and groups to determine who I would be designing for. Developing a primary user persona was helpful for digging into the needs and desires of my main user group.

I leaned into divergent thinking during the ideation phase by sketching over 100 unique concepts.

After selecting one alpha concept, I used clay, MDF, and wood to create a number of prototypes varying in form and size. An important goal of this prototyping was to investigate product ambidexterity and ergonomics.

The making process consisted of the following steps:
1. Creating an original prototype
2. Building a mold box
3. Pouring a silicone block mold and allowing it to cure
4. Removing the original prototype
5. Using the silicone mold to cast a new part

The handle was cast using the silicone mold, then painted and finished in white. The metal tip was formed by hand out of 16-gauge steel sheet metal and secured to the handle using a food-safe epoxy.

As its name implies, the Piercer’s purpose is to pierce through difficult to open seals, such as yogurt or sour cream containers. It can also help a person start peeling an orange or open a tightly shut Tupperware container.