We were given a practical assignment in Idea development. Using the SCAMPER method to create a new product out of a spoon. And designing new packaging for rice.
Read more about the SCAMPER method and what it is in this blog post:
McDonald´s and the Scamper method
The Spoon
You are given a teaspoon as an object. Now apply each one of the SCAMPER techniques to it and give a brief explanation of what new product comes of this and how it can be marketed.
First I substituted the metal in the spoon with food grade hard plastic.
Then breaking up the spoons handle to insert small joints all along the handle. Making the spoon handle bits angled, and inserting joints make the handle flexible when pulled apart (Adapt). When you push the handle together it becomes stiff. Modifying the spoon head into a fork with two tines. Creating a spoon bowl that can open into two, and function as a spoon cap. So the spoon is now a fork without the cap, and a spoon with the cap. The spoon bowl cap goes nicely over the fork and is sealed over the neck of the handle (combine)
I prolonged the handle of the spoon adding a knife blade at the end (modify and combine). Also creating a knife blade cap to protect the knifes sharp part. The knife blade has a little metal inside so that the knife cap can be hold in place with a magnet.
The flexible handle gives the opportunity to wrap the knife/spoon/fork around your wrist. Becomes a bracelet (put to other use). When wrapped around the wrist the spoon bowl bends over the knife end and is held in place by a magnet. The user decides if the spoon part is on the inside or the outside of the wrist.
Now you have a wearable cutlery (put to other use).That you can bring with you anywhere and still look stylish. Its light weight bc of the plastic material. If the material is recycled plastic then great for marketing! The colour of the jewellery cutlery can change with the fashion.
The spoons can be engraved with slogans and the colors can vary from light pastels to darker shades. Preferably with a metallic look, like rose gold, silver and gold.
Marketing:
I would market this under the slogan reduce, reuse, recycle. This is a cutlery you can bring with you anywhere. Traveling, hiking, to festivals or just going to your local cafe. You no longer have to use stirring sticks for your coffee, plastic cutlery on festivals or fast food joints. You always have your cutlery with you. Its the same like wearing a watch. After use you simply rinse them in water and wrap them around your wrist. Jewellery and also a tool for eating your food. A fashion item. A statement.
Even though I think my new product is GREAT there is a question that keep popping up in my mind; is it hygienic to wear your cutlery around your wrist for hours before you use them? Although you could wash them before and after use, the joints might be storing up bacteria that you won’t get out simply by rinsing in water.
So you might have to put it in your dishwasher from time to time.
Sketches
Sketch of the cutlery braclet
My collection of separate spoon, knife and fork, alongside with a square shaped straw….
The Rice
You have to design packaging for rice. The packaging has to be different from what is out there in the market. Apply each one of the SCAMPER techniques and do a write-up on your findings. Then choose the option that you think would work best and do a sketch of what the packaging would look like.
Brainstorm ideas that where thrown away
Substitute the rice packaging for a pillow case, making different pillows, like a collection.
Combine rice packaging with interior design. There could be a own collection for Christmas…
Put it to some other use after its life as rice packaging it could be a beautiful pillow.
Eliminate the packaging completely. Let the customers bring their own packaging. Magnify the packages of rice going out to the consumers. Roll in some big barrels of rice, or braided straw baskets with the rice company logo. Set up a scale and ticket system next to it. Its just too much trash in the world..
Adapt the rice package into a black box containing rice and laced with silica gel padding. Market as a lifeguard for drowned phones/watches/electronics. As dry rice soak up water.
The idea I went with
Combine a normal rice packaging with a heat resistant plastic net cover (recycled plastic?). The customer will get his rice, but also a tool to use in the cooking of the rice. Inside it is a plastic bag containing the rice and outside its a plastic net, thick with very small net mask. The net is flexible and have a closing and opening mechanism that open and close depending on if you twist one way or another.
Removing the inner plastic bag containing rice you are left with only the net which you can use to rinse the rise in water and then close the net slightly. Now you can put the net with the rice into the pot and cook the rice inside the net.(Put to another use). Then when the rice is cooked you simply lift the net containing the rice out of the pot. No more rice sticking to the pot! If there is excess water left you twist the net to press out the water.
If you use a rice cooker? You can still use the rice net depending on the size of your rice cooker, and off course, rinsing the rice using the net. However, you don’t really need many nets, since they can bee used over and over. So it could be a limited edition offer.
Rice cooking bag (reusable;)
Open bag, from above.
My reflective journal 