AALLOKKO

I started brainstorming by drawing different tongs and shapes in Photoshop. I tried to approach the design phase and sketching casually, letting the ideas flow. I also immediately did some background research, exploring the different types of tongs and identifying which shapes seemed user-friendly. I also went shopping to test out various tongs and thought about what I liked and what I didn’t.

I selected a few ideas that interested me and began creating 3D models for them in Rhino. Once I had made quick models of a few ideas, I chose the one I liked the most and started creating a more detailed Rhino model. I also made the counterpart, a half of the tongs that would be suitable for the other hand, without holes.

I created a finished 3D model of the salad servers. I made flat outline drawings of the model, which were sent to another campus, where pieces were cut from metal sheet according to the drawings.

The cut models arrived, and at this point, I was very satisfied with the shape and proportions. Next, I focused on sanding the edges to make them suitable for dining use. I sanded the flat surfaces in a way that made them slightly hazy, as if the surface had been “scratched” deliberately. I didn’t want individual scratches to be visible on the product right from the start of use. I felt that this approach made the product look cleaner.

After sanding, the most challenging part of the project came. I wanted to add a three-dimensional shape to the tongs, so the product had to be forced into shape. I achieved the cup-like shape for the front of the tongs fairly easily by forcing it into shape. However, the real challenge was shaping the narrow, wavy handle. Bending the thin, irregular shape was extremely difficult, and it failed several times as the product slipped out of the press despite being securely clamped. Eventually, I succeeded in making one pair of tongs that turned out well. This phase of the project taught me patience, precision, and also the acceptance of failure. When I finally got the bends right, I tried to feel proud and celebrate that I didn’t give up, but pushed through to the end, and it paid off.