Phil Konrad-Parisi

Projects

About

Phil Konrad-Parisi

Projects

About

Sprout Cookware

Overview

Sprout is a cookware set designed to help children build independence and kitchen skills while remaining relevant as they grow. Developed collaboratively as an academic project.

Timeline

6 weeks
Fall 2025

Skills

Research, Strategy,
Form Development, Testing

Sprout Cookware

Overview

Sprout is a cookware set designed to help children build independence and kitchen skills while remaining relevant as they grow. Developed collaboratively as an academic project.

Timeline

6 weeks
Fall 2025

Skills

Research, Strategy,
Form Development, Testing

There are clear benefits to learning to cook at a younger age.

Early hands-on responsibility in the kitchen strengthens confidence, autonomy, and real-world competence.

However, safety concerns create a barrier to early cooking experiences for many families.

How can we reduce safety risks so hesitant parents feel confident letting their kids cook?

Sprout Cookware Set

A safer way to introduce children to the experience of cooking.

Heat kept at a distance.

A removable guard keeps hands away from hotter surfaces.

Heat kept at a distance.

A removable guard keeps hands away from hotter surfaces.

Topple-proof.

The stable guard provides peace of mind during boiling or frying.

Topple-proof.

The stable guard provides peace of mind during boiling or frying.

Keep fingers safe.

A plastic guard allows for precise cutting while avoiding the risk of injury.

Keep fingers safe.

A plastic guard allows for precise cutting while avoiding the risk of injury.

Keep fingers safe.

A plastic guard allows for precise cutting while avoiding the risk of injury.

Easier for a child to lift.

With a sideways pour, the cutting board is easier to use with two hands instead of one.

Easier for a child to lift.

With a sideways pour, the cutting board is easier to use with two hands instead of one.

Know where to grip.

Cohesive form and material usage communicates where to touch and where not to.

Know where to grip.

Cohesive form and material usage communicates where to touch and where not to.

Know where to grip.

Cohesive form and material usage communicates where to touch and where not to.

Easy to store after cooking.

The nine-piece set packs down into a surprisingly small footprint.

Easy to store after cooking.

The nine-piece set packs down into a surprisingly small footprint.

Process & Iteration

Framing the product.

Brainstorming a product which children do not “age out of,” but instead can become integrated into their kitchens.

Framing the product.

Brainstorming a product which children do not “age out of,” but instead can become integrated into their kitchens.

Observing pain points and opportunities.

A crucial aspect of the design process was observing how some children cook to identify what our product should address.

Observing pain points and opportunities.

A crucial aspect of the design process was observing how some children cook to identify what our product should address.

Defining a child-friendly form language.

Aligning on a cohesive vison for form language that is child friendly, but not toy-like.

Defining a child-friendly form language.

Aligning on a cohesive vison for form language that is child friendly, but not toy-like.

From broad exploration to refining details.

Through many iterations, we explored how to communicate a reassuring "friendliness" in our surfaces and curves.

From broad exploration to refining details.

Through many iterations, we explored how to communicate a reassuring "friendliness" in our surfaces and curves.

Physically tested and prototyped.

To confirm ergonomics and intended use patterns, the prototypes were user tested with children and parents.

Physically tested and prototyped.

To confirm ergonomics and intended use patterns, the prototypes were user tested with children and parents.