This week, Resident Fixpert at British furniture manufacturer Benchmark, Maya Alvarado, visits Heidi to see how she’s getting on with her bespoke utensils, contemplates the role of wear and tear in improving a product and makes a repair to a previous fix…
06:20: I wake up, get ready in plenty of layers and make my way to Benchmark. It is minus six degrees and icy. There is a frosty layer on everything and the plants are glistening.
07:15: I start the day in the workshop. Today I am giving the final utensils to Heidi. They have been finished with food grade clear oil, in an attempt to slow down their wear. Having said that, the wear of a wooden utensil can add to function. In Design as Art, Bruno Munari speaks about the constant contact a spoon has with a saucepan, ‘that eventually shows us what shape a spoon for stirring soup should be.’ As Heidi uses the tools, they should mould to fit their purposes. I pack up the Loop Spoon, Figure of 8 Scraper and the T Spatula, wrapping them in packing sheet. When I spoke to Heidi’s mum last night, she told me that a line of the stitching on the leather footrests has come undone, so I will repair that today. I make sure that I have all the right sewing equipment packed in my bag.
09:30: I arrive at The Castle College. Heidi and the group are already cooking in the kitchen, so it is a good time to get out the tools for use. Heidi is pleased with their look and feel, and begins to use the T Spatula to move a buttery mixture from one bowl to another. The T-handle still seems to be very good for maintaining grip.
09:40: Using the Loop Spoon, Heidi stirs the carrot cake batter. The handle enables her to place pressure on the spoon down on to the sides of the bowl. It is working nicely and is a good size for Heidi. It is important that when Heidi first grasps the spoon that she holds the centre of the spoon, this is where she has the most control, but holding the sides is also useful when applying pressure lower down.
10:30: Martene watches us using the tools and also practices placing the handle centrally in Heidi’s hand. Martene knows Heidi’s abilities really well, but if she were cooking with someone who did not, there may be an element of education needed for the best way to use the tools. A graphic instruction could be useful for future use. I do imagine, though, that their function differs between users, so there is a need for flexibility on how to use each tool that would come through observation.
11:00: Surprisingly, the Figure of 8 Scraper is working better upside down. This is due to Heidi’s ability to grip and put pressure on the base of the first loop. This opens up a new idea for a secondary level for the hand to rest on when using a looped handle tool. I sketch a few of these shapes whilst with Heidi in the kitchen. I think this is really useful insight for the next generation of these tools.
11:30: I see that one of Heidi’s classmates is doing the washing up today and is cleaning her utensils. For a small duration of time, the tools are left to soak in the washing up bowl, which could lead them to changing shape being that they are made of wood. Having less control on how they will be washed means that there is a risk that they will warp over time, as with all wooden utensils. Providing that this does not affect their function, it should not be a problem, but just be a natural part of wear and tear. I am reminded of a beautiful photograph Alex Mowat from architect and design firm Mowat & Company showed me of his friend’s wooden utensil collection. They each have their own irregular forms that have developed over time from constant use, and hold more character for it.
12:00: Some of the food-grade oil has faded from the utensils having been washed. They have cleaned well, however and dry quickly. I think the fact that the majority are thin layers of veneer with water resistant glue, means that it is hard for them to absorb too much liquid.
12:30: For lunch we have a chicken and tarragon pie made by the group, which is really great. Martene helps Heidi to eat by cutting up parts of the pie and placing them on her fork. Heidi is able to then hold the fork and feed herself, but I notice that the tip of the fork is too wide to fit into her mouth at the angle she places it in. I borrow her fork and bend the two outer prongs inwards; this helps Heidi to direct the fork into food on the plate herself and makes it easier to place in the mouth when coming in sideways. The handle was flat, so I curve it slightly for Heidi to gain a better grasp in her hand. This is definitely something worth progressing with as I can see it has made a considerable difference already, and it is great to see Heidi better able to feed herself. This may be more suited to plastic, as the prongs can be quite sharp in this arrangement, so I will 3D print a prototype.
1:30: After lunch I work on repairing the sewing on the footrests. The stitching directly above the metal plate that supports the footrests at a ninety-degree angle has come undone; I think this is from the friction of the metal rubbing against it. I sew a line either side of the metal plate and knot them tightly, then stitch a separate line above the metal again, so that if it comes undone it will not affect the rest of the seams.
2:30: Heidi tells me that it is difficult to have her foot right up to the edge of the footrest because of the leather flaps, so I need to trim away the excess of the folds. When I first fitted these they were held down flat by the bolts, but over time as the leather has softened, they have curled up. I use a metal rule and a Stanley knife to cut away everything around the metal plate. Now these are much neater and I check if Heidi is able to place her foot against the side with ease. The small thickness of the remaining leather is not disrupting this, so it shouldn’t disturb Heidi.
4:30: I head home after the fix of the footrests. I am pleased that the utensils have worked so well and that Heidi liked them. I look forward to seeing where else they may be relevant and the best way to develop them going forward.
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- A day in the life of the Benchmark Fixperts Resident – Week 15
- A day in the life of the Benchmark Fixperts Resident – Week 14
- A day in the life of the Benchmark Fixperts Resident – Week 13
- A day in the life of the Benchmark Fixperts Resident – Week 12
