Kevin 表示自己曾戴上眼罩模擬視障者烹飪的過程，以第一身了解他們的感受及需求，難怪其細心及精巧設計助他蠃得 2018年 James Dyson Award 。他希望來年能憑獎金 及與新加坡的社會組織 Project Dignity合作，或配合眾籌計劃等，將這個系列作進一部生產，以造福當地或亞洲區更多視障人士。
Go.Asia is a charitable initiative that aims to improve society through collective and individual efforts. Go.Asia contains helpful information on possible ways to enrich your life and the lives of those around you through acts of kindness, compassion, generosity and goodwill.
While volunteering at the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH), a Singaporean design student Kevin Chiam was puzzled by the numerous scars on the hands and arms of one of its members, Ms Rosie Wong.
“I realised that cooking was one of the more challenging tasks (for them) … There’s this fear of getting cut, injured or scalded by hot water or hot surfaces.”
Through months of interviews and observations to better understand users’ pain points, he found cooking is challenging for the blind due to the lack of sensory references, they have to cope with the uncertainties of spills or injuries like knife cuts or burns. To overcome the steep learning curve, his Folks kitchenware collection aims to leverage on natural, sensory feedback and tactile cues such that they can prepare food safely with confidence and dignity.
For example, he designed a special set of kitchen utensils including a knife, a chopping board and a stove ring to help them gain tool confidence,
a retractable guard on the knife serves as a physical anchor and guides the fingers to avoid direct blade contact. It also allows the blind to clean off any food that is stuck on the blade with a simple trigger. Chopping Board The side tray, which pegs freely on the sides of the board, acts as an extension of the hand to gather and efficiently transfer ingredients with less spillage. Teaspoon Used in any cup or mug, the spoon’s integrated buoy floats when liquid is added to lower the risk of scalds or burns.
FOLKS kitchenware draft
Kevin Chiam wishes his design can serve as a conversation between people and the encompassing environment.
As a winner of the James Dyson Award 2018, Kevin starts thinking bigger and looks forward to optimising those products for a small scale production and launch the collection through social organisations like Project Dignity in Singapore.
Go.Asia is a charitable initiative that aims to improve society through collective and individual efforts. Go.Asia contains helpful information on possible ways to enrich your life and the lives of those around you through acts of kindness, compassion, generosity and goodwill.
