Back in 2017, the Cooper Hewitt design museum had an exhibit called Access + Ability. A product I came across is called the “Match Cooking Prep System”, which was designed by Amanda Savitzky in 2012.
Honestly, my eye gravitated towards this product because of the fun colors. The product itself looked intriguing, and I wasn’t disappointed! Savitzky got inspired to design a solution that would help her brother, who is on the autism spectrum, feel more confident in the kitchen. As Savitzky described in this article, the kitchen is “a sensory-rich environment, and that can be a barrier for someone with autism.”
Amanda Savitzky took this problem and created a solution for it, instead of trying to fix the person. She analyzed what needed fixing in the environment itself, and what barriers her brother faced. Some solutions she came up with: each measuring cup has a comfortable and easy grip, and each cup is a different color and shape. The different shapes idea is great because it includes those who are color blind. Also, when you put a cup back, it makes a satisfying click sound to indicate it has been put in its proper place.
Everything has its place on the board, it’s very sequential going from bigger to smaller, and no one has to be confused on which cup is the 1/3 and which is the 1/4. It helps take away some of the chaotic elements of cooking, which can then hinder people living with developmental disabilities. Ultimately, this design helps establish a sense of independence as they gain confidence in the kitchen space and navigating it.
There are a lot of things done well here, but when looking at who might be excluded—I think it’s important to note the need of an iPad to get the full experience. Savitzky created an app that included recipes using the images of the Match cooking supplies. If a family doesn’t already own an iPad, then this could be an issue. Without one, there would be a learning curve and a reliance on the caregiver to translate recipes to use the Match measuring system.
The other unfortunate outcome is nothing like this is actually being sold. This product was a thesis project for Savitzky, and so far I’m not seeing this product or similar products out there. Perhaps there is an issue with this design I am not aware of, or I’m not looking in the right place to purchase this kind of item, but I think this is a step in the right direction for inclusive design. So why isn’t something like this being made?
