Designers Eric Tong, Hannah Morris, and Jordan Lau attempt to reduce the use of plastic cutlery on the go with an ultra-compact travel cutlery set. The product consists of a spoon, a knife, and a fork with a custom-fitted storage case. Titled 'Uphold,' the travel cutlery set is "ridiculously compact" as it is "about the size of a cardholder" and weighs approximately 75 grams—"making it probably the lightest reusable metallic travel cutlery kit out there." This is a great example of how flat-pack strategies are being used to drive sustainable agendas.
For materials, the designers utilized "food-grade titanium alloy, aluminum alloy, and a flexible TPU/TPE snap-fit mechanism." The cutlery is ergonomically curved to ensure comfort, while the heads of the fork, spoon, and knife are reinforced for extra longevity.
Card-Size Travel Cutlery
Uphold is a Cutlery Set That Measures 10mm in Thickness
Trend Themes
1. Ultra-compact Travel Cutlery Sets - Opportunity to create and market even more lightweight and compact travel cutlery sets with durable materials.
2. Sustainable Cutlery Alternatives - Opportunity to develop more eco-friendly cutlery options for on-the-go use with eco-friendly products.
3. Flat-pack Design Strategies - Opportunity to employ flat-pack design techniques for more efficient and sustainable product shipping and storage.
Industry Implications
1. Travel Accessories - Opportunity to introduce a new range of travel accessories that includes compact and durable utensil sets.
2. Eco-friendly Product Manufacturing - Opportunity to integrate eco-friendly materials into product design and manufacture.
3. Sustainable Packaging Solutions - Opportunity to develop more sustainable packaging solutions for flat-pack products, potentially reducing waste and shipping costs.