Suki
Spatula · handmade cherry wood
A spatula that helps people with joint pain and arthritis cook more comfortably and with greater control.
The finished spatula.
At a glance
Material
Cherry wood
Process
Handmade from one 12’ × 4’ block
For
Carpal tunnel, arthritis and joint pain
Intent
I designed this spatula to help my mom with carpal tunnel, making it comfortable and functional for anyone with similar conditions.
The problem
Standard spatula handles prioritize manufacturing ease over user comfort, leading to wrist fatigue and poor control for those with limited grip strength.
Cooking can turn into a chore. It hurts. Finding the right grip helps reduce this struggle.
Concept brief
A spatula should be easy to understand, from the first component to the final form. Keeping it simple makes it easier for users to know what to do.
Simple · function · lightweight
Sketches
Head and handle studies, then the profile.
Form thumbnails
Head and handle shapes.
Profile sketch
The side curve of the handle.
Mockups
Three mockups to see how grip would affect the whole form and function.
Mockup one · orca spoon
Handle was too narrow, nothing to grip on. The top was too heavy.
Mockup two
Handle was too big and hard to grip. No arch, so knuckles hit the pan, and too flat.
Mockup three · close to final
The arch wasn’t much help. The head was too small, and without an angled head the knuckle problem stayed.
Making
Handmade from one 12 × 4 block of cherry.
The blank
Belt sander
Hand sanding
Final shaping
Side view
A better arch and an angled head fixed the knuckle problem. The head follows the arch, carrying the form into the handle.
Other views
In hand
Scale against a hand.
Three-quarter view
The arch carries from the head into the handle.
Next project
Kayu
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