Page 35 - THEi Student Applied Research Presentations 2025

PeelaU – AN INNOVATIVE AND
ERGONOMIC KITCHEN

Video
CHEUNG Tung
BA (Hons) in Product Design
Department of Design and Architecture

RESEARCH BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES

Peeling ingredients like ginger is a tedious and frustrating task for many home • Develop an ergonomic peeler to
cooks, especially in Asian households. The irregular shape of ginger often enhance user comfort and safety.
leads to wasted flesh and increased cooking time, raising concerns about • Design an integrated waste
food sustainability. Current peelers lack ergonomic design and efficient waste storage compartment for easy
management, making the process cumbersome. This project aims to develop cleanup.
PeelaU, an innovative peeler with a retractable blade and integrated waste • Effortless storage in small
storage, enhancing safety and efficiency. By focusing on user experience and kitchens.
compact design, PeelaU transforms peeling into a more enjoyable cooking • Emphasize aesthetic appeal to
experience. attract a broader audience.

METHODOLOGY

The project will adopt a structured approach to develop the PeelaU peeler. First,
we will conduct a literature review to identify the current designs of peelers
and their limitations. After that, we will conduct user surveys and interviews
to understand user preferences on peelers, and purchase different peelers on
the market to study and compare. Based on these feedback, we will create
a conceptual design using CAD software. In addition, we will also develop a
prototype through 3D printing technology for user testing so that users can
experience features such as retractable blades and waste storage firsthand. In
addition, we will also refine the design through iterative testing to ensure safety, ABOUT THE INVESTIGATOR
efficiency, and user satisfaction before final production.
I am passionate about creativity
FINDINGS and aesthetics. I enjoy exploring
graphic and product design, driven
The anticipated results of the PeelaU project highlight significant improvements by a desire to solve problems
in user experience and kitchen efficiency. User feedback is expected to confirm through design. My career goal is to
that the ergonomic design and retractable blade enhance comfort and safety, become a creative director, fostering
reducing the risk of cuts. The narrower blade is predicted to facilitate more innovation in design and enhancing
precise peeling, minimizing waste and maximizing ingredient use, especially for user experiences across various
irregularly shaped items like ginger. The integrated waste storage compartment platforms. My FYP supervisor is Mr
should streamline cleanup, allowing users to dispose of peels easily, thus saving Sonny CHOY.
time. Overall, these innovations aim to transform the peeling process into a
more enjoyable and efficient task, appealing to both novice and experienced
cooks.

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