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NEIGHIFE
A whimsical twist to a handmade set of cheese knives.
Role: Researcher, Woodworker
Team: Owen La Belle
Echo Charlie
Tools: Adobe Illustrator, Figma, CNC Machine
Deliverables: Three Cheese Knives made out of Cherry wood
Specs: Seb: 7.2 x 7.6 in; Petunia: 7.6 x 7.3 in; Duncan: 8.4 x 7.8 in, Cut using a CNC 1/8th bit
WHY WOODWORKING?
Creating something tangible and functional and building a story around it is a rare opportunity for designers. It requires a deep understanding of the potential audience and how to create something that makes a definitive impression.
CONCEPT
The Neighife set is a collection of three Equidaes that each have a distinct purpose as cheese knives. There is Petunia the unicorn as a classic yet magical touch, Duncan the donkey to carry the heavier load, and Seb the country shire for something a little rough around the edges. Each piece is ergonomically distinct, a stable of something for everyone.
RESEARCH
As primarily a digital or print media designer, working with wood was a whole new medium. The creation of the final set of cheese knives started with broader research about various artists and art styles. With a deeper look into the likes of Isamu Noguchi, Scandinavian design, Dutch folk art, and other research insights, a vocabulary of how a resonant story can shine through a functional product was formed.
PROTOTYPINGThe keywords helped anchor the moodboarding process into distinct categories of functional utilitarianism and storytelling potential. Inspired by these distinct directions, the sketching and rough prototyping process was set off. After a thorough round of critique and iteration, the cardboard prototypes of the Neighife proved to be the perfect marriage of whimsy and utility.
WOODWORKINGUsing the CNC machine in Echo Charlie’s studio, wooden prototypes were made to provide a much-needed understanding of the kind of post-production touches and cutting file requirements that need to be fulfilled. The choice of Cherry wood came after a clear understanding of these details; the dark richness of the wood provides a more sophisticated yet rustic touch to the finished products. Finally, each piece was coated with a food-safe finish, then sold at the end-of-year student exhibition.
KEY TAKEAWAYSWoodworking and product storytelling proved to be an important lesson on how research can inform even a tangible creation like this. This required keen collaboration as partners and deliberation on how a story can be built around handmade kitchen appliances.