For the short project, the goal was to design something using plastic cards that would simplify our daily lives. I chose to focus on food packaging and storage, especially since I’m currently on Erasmus and have very limited kitchen facilities. For example, I only have three bowls, and I dedicate one of them just for storing onions and garlic.
I wanted to take advantage of the material’s key properties—particularly its elasticity and flexibility. Thanks to the flexible rods (or tubes), each bag is held under tension, making it easy to stretch a bag for garlic just as well as for onions.
This product is built around what’s already available. For instance, onions are often sold in mesh bags, so I used that as my starting point. During the prototyping phase, I quickly realized that the base needed to be weighted for stability. Since I didn’t have many materials at home, I used other onions, fruits, or vegetables to weigh down the bottom. This solution not only stabilizes the structure but also provides extra storage—a win-win: fewer materials used, and more storage space for me.
I experimented with a range of techniques and tools—using a lighter, a hairdryer, and even an ice bath. The final finish isn’t perfect, as I had some difficulty getting the bottom tubes to the right level of elasticity and securing them properly to the bowl.
But in the end, the assignment was about creating something that improves your daily life. And with this bright yellow design, I can now store my onions and garlic in a fun and practical way!
