13 of 16Human Centred DesignTeam of 42024

Swipe

A self-cleaning counter for shared student kitchens.

Press a button. A food-safe cover rolls past a scraper and a cleaning bay, crumbs drop into a bin, and the surface comes back clean. Designed for students, sold to hall managers.

  1. The surface you cook on, refreshed at the press of a button.

  2. Knurled, so the belt keeps tracking when it's wet.

  3. Angled at about 58°, so debris drops straight into the bin.

  4. Geared DC motor with limit sensing for half-cycle indexing.

  5. Under the counter, out of the way.

Swipe
SwipeProductNot to scaleSheet 13
Brief
Cleaner shared kitchens, so students cook more and eat better.
Outcome
A push-button counter that cleans itself. Designed for students, sold to hall managers.
  • Interviews
  • Mechanism
  • Bench tests
DesignEngineeringResearchRootsDE NIRORotaryOwnershipMEDIBreatheTalking HatTMJFlowCoolingAirseatBalanceSwipeChairHeat GunDots & Boxes
I don't cook because it's so gross.
Student, interview
How it worksStep 01 of 02
  1. 01

    Hear

    Six months, a shared kitchen, and a friend with a nut allergy.

  2. 02

    Press

    One press. Pulsing means cleaning, solid means ready.

Automated cleaning mechanisms mean my flatmates might actually use this.
Student, testing
FilmSwipe
One press. A fresh surface.