Joseph Joseph Pizza Cutter

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Joseph Joseph set out to reimagine the pizza cutter, aiming to tackle common issues found in existing models on the market. The result is a thoughtfully designed tool that goes beyond its primary function. Prioritising ergonomics, the cutter guarantees a comfortable and user-friendly experience, enhancing post-use cleaning, blade safety, and space efficiency.

The Brief

The Beta team were tasked to address a brief that tackled the following insights generated from user testing and focus groups:

Many existing designs neglect space efficiency, contributing to storage space issues. Numerous models lack innovations for enhanced safety, with exposed blades remaining a common risk. Current designs sacrifice ergonomic comfort for a compact form, impacting user experience. Cleaning is a challenge in existing products, lacking user-friendly features for easy maintenance.

Design Development

Various iterative SLA and FDM prototypes were created to fine tune each aspect of the pizza cutter, allowing the team to test mechanical performance and ergonomics against the product specification.

The scale and functionality of these prototypes were tested in multiple focus groups, which further uncovered insights during the design process that the team could address.

The Details

A 45-degree cutting angle was introduced to achieve optimal wrist position for a precise and comfortable cutting experience, along with providing adequate hand clearance during operation.

The handle utilises a non-cylindrical profile to provide good mechanical grip, preventing the product slipping in the hand when in use. The design also lends itself to chopping a variety of different food types other than pizza.

The Details

A method was devised for safely removing the stainless-steel blade, using a contrasting colour to signify the central touchpoint. The blade easily pops out from its sprung housing, without the need for secondary fixings or tools for disassembly.

The removable blade design allows users to safely store the cutter separate to the handle, also introducing simplicity to the cleaning process. The hanging hole offers a space-saving alternative when not in use.