Hay Kitchen Timer

Time: 7 weeks
Materials: Stainless Steel
Focus: interaction design, identifying and working within form language, rendering

While it’ easy to turn a timer on your phone, people are trying to spend time without their phones. This kitchen timer, designed for the Hay collaboration with George Sowden, is an eye-catching kitchen timer that encourages mindful cooking.

(This project was completed as part of coursework, and not linked to Hay)

Form Development

I began by developing shapes that fit directly within shapes in the Sowden collection. I was looking at the travel cups and salt and pepper grinders to create a mushroom-shaped timer.

My goals for the design were:

1. A timer that could be visible from afar
2. Something that could be used with one hand while cooking

And I realized a timer that was turned horizontally was incredibly hard to turn with one hand.

I found a vintage time that was turned vertically and decided to move to this form language.

From there I made a series of cardboard and 3D printed models.

Final Concept

This design achieved my goals:

The vertical turn with a big dial means the timer can be used with one hand.

The large numbers on the front mean the time can be seen from afar.

Color choices

I created 4 colorways based on colors in the Sowden Collection so that my kitchen timer integrated naturally.

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