Overview

This project aimed to create a distinct user experience for a manual coffee grinder by rethinking the traditional grinding mechanism and building a stronger emotional connection between the user and the product. Rather than the conventional rotating motion found in most grinders, the design introduces a new pull-based grinding action, inspired by manual vegetable choppers. Combined with natural materials like wood, this grinder offers both tactile warmth and a fresh interaction style.

Challenge

The challenge was to differentiate the user interaction from standard manual grinders while making the process feel more engaging and intuitive. Traditional grinders often rely on a twisting motion that can be repetitive and inconvenient. I wanted to break this norm by offering a new method that still felt familiar and satisfying, while also crafting a product that felt warm, approachable, and premium in everyday use.

Role & Responsibilities

This was an independent design project where I led all phases—from user research and mechanism exploration to aesthetic development, material selection, and concept realization. I focused on merging functionality with emotional value through physical interaction and material language.

Result

The final concept is a manual coffee grinder with a pull-based grinding mechanism that redefines a standard experience. The design introduces a novel, intuitive user interaction and creates a sense of closeness through material warmth. This grinder not only functions differently but also feels different—bridging the gap between usability and emotional design.

Personal Project

1 week, 2024

Rhinoceros, Keyshot, Adobe CC (Ps, Pr)

Industrial Design, Concept, Visulation, Animation

MANUAL COFFEE GRINDER

a manual coffee grinder that reimagines the experience with a different user interaction and warm, tactile materials

Industrial Designer

Home

CONTACT

LET'S WORK TOGETHER!

elif-bulut

elifbulutt

elifbulut.id

elifbulut.id@gmail.com

Research & Inspiration

I began by studying traditional manual coffee grinders and observing how users interact with them. Many expressed fatigue or discomfort with the continuous twisting motion. At the same time, I explored other manual kitchen tools and found inspiration in vegetable chopper mechanisms, which offer a pull-to-activate function. This gave the first spark of the idea to repurpose that motion for grinding coffee.

Design Goals

The project was shaped by two primary goals:

To transform the user interaction by making grinding more dynamic and ergonomic
To build a warm emotional bond between user and object through thoughtful form and material use

Interaction & Form Exploration

Using sketches and quick mockups, I developed a concept where users pull a handle to grind the coffee, instead of rotating it. I emphasized the moment of adding coffee beans by making this part visually prominent and inviting, using natural wood textures to elevate warmth and authenticity.

Material Language & Detailing

Wood was used intentionally at key touchpoints—the bean input area and the pull handle—to accentuate the new interaction style and offer a sensory contrast to the rest of the form. The combination of innovative motion and natural, tactile materiality shaped a unique product identity rooted in both function and feeling.

Key Contributions

This project highlights my ability to challenge everyday interactions by combining inspiration from other product categories with material storytelling. I focused on how a small appliance could deliver emotional resonance and functional novelty through design thinking.