Dumpling Kit - Compact Rolling Pin with Spatula
DR2009 Products in an Asian Cultural Context, AY18 Semester 2
NTU School of Art, Design and Media
Project: Rolling Pin
As a functional design, the rolling pin and spatula are put together as a kit for the making of dumplings (also jiaozi, 饺子), frequently found across Eastern cultures as culinary delicacies. The rolling pin suggests the visual and tactile form of the bamboo, a perennial grass endemic to Asia, historically and contemporarily used for construction, furniture and homeware.
Dual materials, white ash and bamboo composite, which both have smooth, linear grain patterns, are used to suggest the modularity observed in bamboo. Through the use of solid ash timber and modern bamboo composite (derived from bamboo chopping boards sourced from IKEA and glued together), there is also a hint at the cultural contrast between the new and old. The spatula is gently concaved and curved to visually and physically relate to the rolling pin; the rolling pin’s ends are a tactile allusion of the bamboo’s nodes. The product is minimally ornamented to allude to the bamboo’s modest simplicity.
By including a leather strap, the product can be suspended on a hook when not in use, reducing space usage in shelving or on the kitchen worktop. The concave ends of the rolling pin enable it to stand vertically as well, providing more storage options. The diameter of the rolling pin is neither too wide or too narrow, allowing comfortable use and prevents grip fatigue.
Overall, the rolling pin and spatula compose a compact product that can be used easily and without fuss by all ages for the making of Asian dumplings. Simple and minimal visual and tactile motifs allude to the unassuming character of the bamboo plant, an essential material of various Eastern cultures.
