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Measuring Cup

Designing for the GIA Housewares Student Competition:
Kitchenware Category
Design a weighted measuring cup with an assistive grip for people with limited hand mobility.

Limited hand mobility includes diagnoses like hand tremors, Parkinson’s disease,
cerebral palsy, Dyskinesia, and nerve damage.

Interviewed a Special Education (SPED) teacher, an occupational therapist (O.T.), and three Paraprofessionals who work together.

Dr. Heather uses cooking lessons and food therapy as a lesson plan to teach life skills to her students.

Her students are Kindergarten through 12th grade and often have limited ranges of mobility - from nerve damage to tremors, including cognitive disorders - all of which directly affect muscle control in their limbs.

Her experiences with her students’ limited precision in day-to-day life and in the kitchen are a comparative match for users with limited hand coordination.

Data Collection

Images from one of Dr. Heather’s food therapy lessons

Para-professional supervising a student with an essential tremor while they pour & mix ingredients using a measuring cup into a large bowl.

The student is noted to struggle with keeping their grip on the handle and twists their arm away from their body to pour, which is an unnatural and somewhat pained movement.

O.T. (Occupational therapist) working with a student with cerebral palsy to activate a homemade device that rotates the fixed measuring cup to pour.

The aforementioned student cannot sustain a power grip to hold onto handles, oftentimes using both palms for tasks, including but not limited to lifting, lowering, or pouring objects (like small bowls).

An example of hand-over-hand guidance

Data Summary

Students who experience involuntary hand movement (hand tremors, dyskinesia) and struggle with power grip types oftentimes cannot operate existing measuring cups by themselves.

Dr. Heather and her team often provide hand-over-hand guidance, where they navigate the students’ hands through the motions in their cooking exercises. This is to teach and maintain the learned motor skills.

Weighted tools are proven to improve motor skills in physical therapy, especially for those who struggle with tremors or motor control, such as those with Parkinson’s disease.

The added weight helps counteract the tremors, allowing for more control over movements and smoother transitions between lifting and pouring.

An analysis of current products on
the market that fits the criteria as a weighted, assistive-grip tool.

Materials like aluminum or glass make
products long-lasting and increase
the personal value of the item.

Design Criteria

Surface Texture

Palm Grip

Drop Resistant

Weighted

Organic Shape

Resting Lid: Test 1

A 3D printed model to test the function of a palm grip when lifting and pouring the measuring cup.

With measurement lines on the inside and grooves to guide the hand placement on the outside. The lid attaches to the cup through a lip and groove joint.

The manufactured material would be enameled cast iron at 0.125” thick. This would provide the extra weight needed to counteract hand tremors and provide controlled movement.

Final Sketch

Moving forward with the feedback from test 1, in the final model, the resting lid is removed, and just the body of the measuring cup remains.

+ Continuing with a side texture that guides hand placement and supports a palm-lift grip style.