BANANA OPENER

2018
Brief: To design an ergonomic handle for a bottle opener
The Banana Opener is a bottle opener that utilises the curve of a banana to ease wrist strain when opening bottles.
in collaboration with Berkay Ak

HANDS ON RESEARCH

The bottle opener is a tool that has evolved in a variety of contexts throughout the course of history. For this project, we were tasked with designing a more ergonomic and universally usable grip for the bottle opener. We started with a lot of market and ergonomic research, and learnt that a lot of people preferred to open bottles at a 45 degree angle to the cap, and that most people want more control when opening bottles. 

IDEATION TO DEVELOPMENT

From there, we ideated through sketches and rapid 3D modeling with a variety of soft and hard materials and made a series of prototypes to develop some of the more feasible and suitable ideas. At that point we started considering the form and the physicality of the object, and became inspired by the banana. 

FINAL DESIGN

​We then developed our narrative off of that. The natural shape of the banana facilitated the more comfortable angle and has an acceptable width for most hands. We also chose to add a magnet at the head, helping the user catch the cap after opening and locating it when opening. We chose to conceptualise the product using Richlite, a material made of recycled paper. With that, each banana opener could be recycled, and made into new ones, fitting a cradle to cradle life cycle.