AWARD YEAR
2019
CATEGORY
Home
GOALS
Good Health & Well-being
KEYWORDS
kitchen, kitchenware, safe cooking
COUNTRY
Singapore
DESIGNED BY
Kevin Chiam
WEBSITE
https://www.jamesdysonaward.org/en-SG/2018/project/folks-kitchenware-for-the-blind/
Folks Kitchenware for the Blind
Empowering the blind to cook safely with convenience, confidence and dignity.
Even with sight, cooking can be daunting, much less without vision. For the blind, preparing food naturally becomes challenging as they learn to cope with the uncertainties of spills or injuries like knife cuts or burns. I was thus surprised to find blind Master Chef Christine Ha working the stove and knife like a seasoned hand. Later, I come to understand that she could accomplish this only through rigorous practice. This process however takes time and can be demoralizing in early stages. The objective is thus to imbue individuals with confidence so that they can overcome physical and mental barriers to appreciate and attempt cooking.
Cooking is challenging for the blind due to the lack of sensory references. To overcome the steep learning curve, Folks kitchenware leverages on natural, sensory feedback and tactile cues such that they can prepare food safely with confidence and dignity.