Silka

Silka

Capstone Project
Filing for Your Fridge
IN COLLABORATION WITH
MAJOR
Industrial Design
FACULTY
Sang-gyeun Ahn and Kristine Matthews
Food waste is a prevalent and growing problem in the US right now. We throw away almost ⅓ of our food, and much of this is done on the consumer level. We chose to focus on the consumer because we found that in our own lives, we often throw out food voluntarily or due to negligence. Young people who cook for themselves have extra difficulty finishing the groceries that they buy because of many factors, including busy lifestyles and cluttered fridges that obstruct the view of food available. To alleviate this, we decided to make a fridge organizer and reminder system that would increase the visibility of produce, making users aware of their food, as well as offer subtle reminders to eat food before it goes bad. Our product, Silka, presents produce in an appealing and engaging way using a filing + magnet system that connects the interior and exterior of the fridge. A simple frame inside of the vegetable drawer organizes expanding silicone bags and offers a clear, versatile view of all available produce. The slidable bags hold a variety of shapes and sizes of food, whole or prepped. Each bag contains a corresponding removable magnet that can be placed on the fridge exterior when the user wants a subtle reminder to use a certain vegetable. They can also be moved and grouped to help meal prep, indicating which vegetables should be used in a dish. The structure and visibility that Silka brings to the fridge ensure that no produce will be lost or forgotten. By encouraging users to engage with their groceries, Silka motivates them to finish what they have on hand and practice mindful consumption.
DESIGNER(S)
MAJOR
Industrial Design
FACULTY
Sang-gyeun Ahn and Kristine Matthews
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION OF DESIGN