Tristan Christianson

Cut to Scale. Concept, Industrial Design & Development, 2012. The concept is to develop a stand alone digital scale that can work in conjunction with a cutting board to better facilitate food portion management. When the board is not needed the scale can be used independent of the board or vice versa. TPE rubber weighted feet stabilize the wood pulp board that can be offered in different sizes or alternate materials for various market applications. The water-proof digital scale is designed for easy cleanup, with intuitive rubberized button surfaces, and a snap-fit flip stand that can support the readout unit with out without the scale.

Flipper Spice Rack. Concept, Industrial Design & Development, 2012. The issues of spice storage include air and light exposure. This design uses a sliding rubber plunger that can move up into the spice jar keeping air out until all the ingredients are used up. A UV stabilized PC plastic cylinder helps improve spice longevity outside of the cupboard, and an airtight, sealed flip-open lid converts from scoop to shake openings with opposing flip tabs built in one cap. The package is completed with a single (6) or dual (12) set steel snap-on rack with options for mini grinder jar heads, or electric grinder for custom spice milling to broaden the product offering range.

Spice containers were designed with a double-use living hinge TPE flip-cap that performs both as a shaker and a wide-opening scoop in one. To improve longevity, as ingredients are removed from the container a plunger-style bottom can be pushed up to remove air gaps with easy to read level markings in both Tsp and Tbsp increments.

Magnemats Concept, Industrial Design, Project Development, 2012 Cutting boards are one of the more space-intensive use tools in the kitchen, This design looks to improve on the need for multiple cutting boards while keeping solid weight and feel of the heavier boards. The concept is to marry the thinner, protein and vegetable specific plastic, color-coded flex mats with the solid stability of the heavier natural wood boards. The plastic boards can be easily moved or interchanged when needed, keeping the main wood/wood-pulp board as part of the system to improve stability and feel compared to a thin plastic mat alone. Insert-molded magnetic corner tabs interlock into each other and anchor into the main board for containment when only one is needed, but space is limited in storage. The magnetic method ensures that all boards are kept together when in use or stored vertically.

Building on the use of injection molded PP and PE as flat pak structural components, the concept was to re-imagine the commonly used collapsible dish rack into a more durable and interesting form. Simple slotted construction and snap-tite forms easily disassemble for storage.

Butter Shaver - Concept, Industrial Design, Project Development, 2012. Keeping and using chilled butter is a kitchen mainstay. This project looked to combine the container with a practical dispenser. Using a contained, rotating blade grip, the butter stick is held in a chilled metal and plastic-sleeved container for quick dispensing on toast, or measured out for cooking using the spring-loaded tablespoon gauge marker. A spring-loaded plate keeps constant pressure on the chilled butter stick ensuring complete usage. A twist-off top cap allows for disassembly , cleaning and reloading.

In developing this project it was learned that there are two kinds of typical butter sticks; East Coast and West Coast. Although they are differing lengths of 80.0mm versus 121.0mm, the overall volume is the same. The main challenge was in deciding on two differing sizes or offering one to fit both.

2-in-1 Stacker Bowls Concept, Industrial Design, Project Development, 2012 Cutting boards are one of the more space-intensive use tools in the kitchen, This design looks to improve on the need for multiple cutting boards while keeping solid weight and feel of the heavier boards. The concept is to marry the thinner, protein and vegetable specific plastic, color-coded flex mats with the solid stability of the heavier natural wood boards. The plastic oards can be easily moved or interchanged when needed, keeping the main wood/wood-pulp board as part of the system to improve stability and feel compared to a thin plastic mat alone. Insert-molded magnetic corner tabs interlock into each other and anchor into the main board for containment when only one is needed, but space is limited in storage. The magnetic method ensures that all boards are kept together when in use or stored vertically.

Grater Containers, Concept, Industrial Design & Development. 2012. A series of grater projects looking to better catch the foods, like cheeses, in measured ?containers that can be separated and sealed for storage. Multi-grating surface units would support a sleeved container that can be slipped out and used for pouring, while size specific vertical graters would nest in sets for different applications from cheeses, to vegetables and spices.

The Grill Keeper. Concept and Project Development, 2012. The issues of transporting raw or cooked proteins to or from the grill are looked at to be addressed in the design concept behind this project. Many times proteins are brought out to the grill well before they are needed and are often kept under foil or in plastic bags and in bringing back, they are sometimes mishandled, using many of the same things they were brought out in. The idea is to basically develop a food-grade, expanding rubber carry container built around a reversible coated aluminum tray that can keep proteins ready before and after cooking.