Type
Product Design /
Inclusive Design
Year
2022
Context
WS 2022 – Mapping Hildesheim |
Collaboration with Local Manufacturers
Role
Concept, Design,
Ergonomics, Research
Project -Bi 碧
Inclusive Kitchen Knife Design
An inclusive kitchen knife designed for users with visual impairments, focusing on tactile guidance, ergonomic safety, and emotional reassurance through form and color.
Summary Box｜Key Highlights
Inclusive Insight
Designed for users with visual impairments, focusing on tactile guidance, intuitive orientation, and emotional reassurance in everyday cooking.
Design Response
A broad blade for safe tactile contact, a symmetrical handle for intuitive grip, and a color strategy informed by sensory psychology and rehabilitation contexts.
Impact
Transforms a common kitchen tool into an empowering, dignified experience that supports independence, safety, and confidence.
The project was later selected for exhibition at Berlin Design Week as part of the university showcase.
Story Overview
Bi is an inclusive kitchen knife designed with users who have visual impairments at its core.
Its broad blade creates a clear tactile contact area to guide safe finger placement, while the symmetrical handle ensures stable grip and intuitive orientation.
Developed during the Mapping Hildesheim course in Winter Semester 2022, the project was realized in collaboration with local manufacturers in Hildesheim, combining design research, ergonomics, and inclusive thinking into a practical kitchen tool.
The project was later selected for exhibition at Berlin Design Week as part of the university showcase.
VIDEO
Click to play the video.
Design Thinking & Concept
The Meaning of “Bi”
“Bi (碧)” in Chinese symbolizes green jade—a material that gains value through polishing, representing renewal and rebirth.
In color psychology, light green often signifies vitality, recovery, and hope.
This symbolism reflects the core message of the project:
Even with limited vision, new possibilities and confidence can emerge through thoughtful design.
Character Decomposition:
王 (yellow) · 白 (white) · 石 (gray)
These three components inspired the knife’s color logic and formal composition.
Typographic Metaphor
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B mirrors the curved lines of the handle
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i: the dot represents the screw, the line symbolizes the blade
The name itself becomes part of the visual language, reinforcing the connection between form and meaning.
Form & Ergonomics
Broad Blade – A Safe Starting Point
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Enlarged blade surface creates a strong tactile contact area
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Guides fingers away from the cutting edge
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Acts as a safe food-guiding surface for users with visual impairments
Curved Blade – Natural Rocking Motion
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Supports a smooth rocking-cut technique
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Reduces wrist strain
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Makes cutting more effortless and controlled
Symmetrical Handle – Intuitive Control
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Left-right symmetry enables orientation without visual input
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Textured surface enhances grip security
Color & Sensory Psychology
The color strategy is informed by observations in neurological rehabilitation environments, where visual–tactile mismatches can cause confusion and anxiety.
Design Decisions:
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Blue
Highly recognizable but may suppress appetite
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Natural Wood Beige:
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Soft contrast with food
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Non-overstimulating
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Maintains warmth and appetite appeal
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The combination of natural wood beige and stainless-steel silver creates a calm, clear, and reassuring visual hierarchy.
Context & User Insight
This project was inspired by personal experience accompanying a family member in neurological rehabilitation.
Beyond physical training, key elements included:
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Color stimulation
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Simulated kitchen activities
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Sensory integration
These observations shaped the core values of Bi: safety, clarity, dignity, and confidence in everyday cooking.
Outcome & Reflection
Bi demonstrates how inclusive design can transform everyday tools into empowering experiences.
By integrating tactile guidance, ergonomic form, and emotional sensitivity, the knife supports independence, safety, and confidence for users with visual impairments.