Context
Certain authentic dishes require a long stirring and cooking time - It's common in certain cuisines to cook on slow and medium heat and cook for a longer period of time. Long cooking time benefits in better flavors and consistency in many dishes. Indian and Italian are some examples of cuisines that usually require a long cooking time. The device has multiple settings such as temperature control and stirring speeds which can be changed for different steps along the cooking process and be pre-set so a user does not need need to constantly monitor the pot. Scroll down to find out more.
Example: A user can put in the ingredients for an Italian Ragu sauce into the pot and go run errands. The user can choose the settings of intermittent stirring at a temperature of 160F for 1 hour and then no stirring and keep the sauce warm at 100F till the user comes back home. The pot would switch to the next step without having to be monitored.
Target Users
1. People with busy lifestyles, find cooking time consuming - Cooking takes time and energy. People with busy jobs, parents who also have to look after their children might find a helping hand useful.
2. Niche groups such as the elderly, people suffering from arthritis or with joint pains, etc. find it difficult to be independent in the kitchen - Chronic Diseases such as diabetes and arthritis can reduce the mobility of a user, making tasks like cooking very challenging.
Research Findings
Journey map
Based on 12 interviews, including 3 people suffering from arthritis.
Survey - 50 responses & Interview - 7 people
Market research
Drawbacks of current products:
😭 The products are noisy.
😭 Can't be used for thick sauces/ have a weak motor.
😭 The product melts at high temperatures
😭 Only single stirring speed and needs to be monitored.
😭 Cleaning and assembly is difficult.
Second survey - 50 Users
Design Criteria
✔️ Strong motor housing for thick sauces.
✔️ Easy to use, clean and assemble.
✔️ Allow temperature and timer controls.
✔️ Multiple stirring settings.
✔️ No need to monitor (a smart device)
✔️ Multiple functions such as stirring, simmering, keep warm.
Research on Dishes
I interviewed 2 renowned chefs
👩🏽🍳 Ritu Dalmia - A celebrity chef, owner of several popular Italian restaurants in Europe like Latitude 28 and Cafe Diva. She also received the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity.
👩🏽🍳 Marryam H Reshi - The Times of India food critic, has been traveling and exploring foods and flavours and writing about them for the past 30 years.
Based on the interviews and online research I created a list of dishes which require long cooking/stirring times with constant monitoring and created a product that could be used to cook these dishes without the hastle! Examples:
Usability Testing
Feedback
📝 People of all ages found it easy to use, assemble and clean.
📝 The interface was simple and intuitive.
📝 Appreciated that the pot could be placed in the oven after.
📝 Wanted multiple stirring styles where speed and time could be controlled.
📝 5/5 would buy and use to cook at home.
Changes Made
📝 Allowing users to set different temperatures for different steps.
📝 Choosing a material which allows users to take the dish and put it in the oven after.
Final Prototype
This multipurpose cooking device allows users to multitask in the kitchen and continue with their busy schedules without having to constantly monitor the pot, making cooking less tiring and more relaxing. The thick base allows for a strong motor housing.
