Cooking creates the memories of our family traditions and social experiences. At its best, cooking is inclusive, participatory and highly functional. However, physical limitations often restrict kitchen design to expensive custom cabinetry, and as aging in place becomes normative, having a cooking environment that is responsive to changing personal and physical requirements is crucial. Our design proposes a free-standing, multifunctional mobile kitchen system.
The MObile KItchen (MO:KI) addresses the physical (i.e. functionality) and behavioral health (e.g., social connectedness, engagement, and well-being) of the users. MO:KI’s flexibility and interchangeable nature encourages personal, social interaction while cooking and preparing from both sides of the units. Ergonomically, the two-sided units shorten reach atop and within storage systems to accommodate users of any age, ability and stature. The universally designed collection improves independence, especially for our aging population, and enables longer term capacity for meal preparation in their own home.
MO:KI is a bespoke collection of modular units highlighting flexible work zones for improved accessibility in the cooking environment. It is a customizable kitchen that transforms to fit the needs of every user. Unlike costly traditional kitchens, MO:KI is mobile, transportable, and interchangeable to fit individual needs.
The MObile KItchen (MO:KI) addresses the physical (i.e. functionality) and behavioral health (e.g., social connectedness, engagement, and well-being) of the users. MO:KI’s flexibility and interchangeable nature encourages personal, social interaction while cooking and preparing from both sides of the units. Ergonomically, the two-sided units shorten reach atop and within storage systems to accommodate users of any age, ability and stature. The universally designed collection improves independence, especially for our aging population, and enables longer term capacity for meal preparation in their own home.
MO:KI is a bespoke collection of modular units highlighting flexible work zones for improved accessibility in the cooking environment. It is a customizable kitchen that transforms to fit the needs of every user. Unlike costly traditional kitchens, MO:KI is mobile, transportable, and interchangeable to fit individual needs.
|
|
MO:KI breaks away from the confines of decades old thinking that the kitchen work triangle must be satisfied. Designed from the tactile experience of the home cook outward the units, set on casters, respond to changing programmatic and accessibility needs. Our grid system with original custom designed pegs allow for an endless reconfiguration of shelves, storage systems and surface heights. This highly mobile system uniquely shifts to form multifunctional cooking spaces that accommodate a variety of user needs. MO:KI’s inherent human centeredness readily adapts to support physical and social needs while creating an engaging user experience. |
Design
Our customizable kitchen transforms to fit the needs of any user. Unlike costly traditional kitchens, MO:KI fits individual needs. Components are interchangeable and multifunctional, for example, shelves transform into horizontal work surfaces, and soft good storage systems can be taken to the market to become grocery bags. This streamlined and simple system easily transitions from cooking arrangements to socialization centers.
MO:KI reduces the traditional kitchen footprint and its compact nature eliminates static, bulky cabinets that take up large volumes of space. Minimized to its essence, MO:KI also eliminates expensive upgrades such as hardware, cabinet doors, and other traditional mechanics. This reduction makes it financially accessible for those with limited or fixed incomes. It is ideal for small kitchen environments, especially those in high density areas, and for those who wish for an efficient working experience. MO:KI is a kit-of-parts that enables consumers to select the size and type of units that best fit their cooking style, physical and social needs.
MO:KI reduces the traditional kitchen footprint and its compact nature eliminates static, bulky cabinets that take up large volumes of space. Minimized to its essence, MO:KI also eliminates expensive upgrades such as hardware, cabinet doors, and other traditional mechanics. This reduction makes it financially accessible for those with limited or fixed incomes. It is ideal for small kitchen environments, especially those in high density areas, and for those who wish for an efficient working experience. MO:KI is a kit-of-parts that enables consumers to select the size and type of units that best fit their cooking style, physical and social needs.
Our Research
A Right Idea at the Right Time
The current elderly population (ages of 65 and up) is 17% of the total population (1) and 25.9% of that population lives alone in their own home2. Statistically the older the age, the more likely people are to live alone. According to the 2016 U.S. Census Bureau, about 1 out of 5 adults 65 to 74 years old lived alone, but that figure doubled to around 4 out of 10 among those 85 and older (2). Unfortunately, mobility in the built environment can be a constant reminder to people of their unwanted consciousness of one’s impaired or deteriorated body (3). MO:KI's inherent flexibility will allow users with physical challenges and increasingly solitary aging populations to personalize their kitchen environments to suit their needs and gain social independence with improved mobility and functionality.
Hypothesis
Our pilot, evidence-based design research and experiential activities provided tactile insight into the social engagement and nuances of preparing a meal. Results confirmed that MO:KI is a feasible concept for improving the physical and behavioral health of people. Hence, the central hypothesis of this proposal is: MO:KI will transform the cooking experience for people by enhancing the efficiency of the environment and improving social connectedness in the kitchen.
Implementation Plan
Our pilot customer discovery research identified and expanded a viable customer base. Additional customer discovery will provide deeper insight into user demographics and identify product adjustments that will benefit the nd euser. To achieve this, we are performing a series of interviews and research studies that will allow potential users to interact with the units in controlled environments. Data collected from these activities will provide insight for research and development of existing prototypes. These revisions will enable a change for the better by creating a transformative cooking experience.
Experiment Path
|
First, interactive assessment interviews will be performed to prove the hypothesis that the system promotes functionality and social connectedness. Participants will answer questions related to social connectedness and user performance criteria while being observed in a MO:KI scenario to validate our universal design strategies.
Next, we will gather quantitative data through a time study where functionality will be assessed by measuring the time it takes for individuals to perform a set of tasks within the kitchen environment. Lastly, we will perform a prolonged engagement study with a comparative analysis of the MO:KI system and traditional kitchen environments where we will measure the effectiveness of the system’s flexibility and universal design attributes over time. |
Future Steps
The next step for MO:KI is to further the research and development of the system. After analyzing our initial prototyped units, we will further investigate materiality, appliance systems integration and perform engineering tests for the connection of the modular units while completing a cost analysis for outsourcing fabrication. Materiality explorations will test the durability and cleanability of surface materials to further improve integrity and performance. Implementation of our business plan and cost analysis of prototype fabrication will support anticipated production.
Listen
|
Golden, M., “Creating Units of Memory: From University Design Studio to Manufacturer Using Fusion 360,” Autodesk 2019, Nov. 19, 2019. https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/au-online?query=golden+
|
View
|
|
|
Video credit: Caroline Pedrotti, RIT Interior Design Student '20
|
|
The RIT Crowdfund and generous donations from corporate sponsors and non endowed funds enabled the MO:KI team to show at their awarded a space in the competitive university section of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). ICFF is North America's epicenter for global trends that are changing the landscape of design and redefining what it means to be contemporary. Exhibitors from 36 countries map the newest frontier of what's best and what's next. Each year, the ICFF invites top design schools through a juried competition to showcase the best design work. Displays feature the work of current students tackling concepts that give the design industry a look at the future of design.
|
Share
|
Citations:
(1) Ortman J, Velkoff V, Hogan H. An Aging Nation: The Older Population in the United States, Population Estimates and Projections. U.S. Census Bureau. May 2014. Report Number P25-1140. (2) Roberts, A. Ogunwole, S. Blakeslee, L. Rabe, M. The Population 65 Year and Older in the United States: 2016. U.S. Census Bureau. Oct. 2018. ACS-38. (3) Imrie, R. Disability and Discourses of Mobility and Movement, Environment and Planning A. 2000; 32(9):1641-1656. |