Butter Warmer

client: Focus Products Group

18/8 Stainless-Steel two piece butter warmer

SKILLS & TOOLS UTILIZED
pen, pencil and marker
Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator
Rhino 3D
AutoCAD / Mechanical Desktop

The top is designed to have a subtle locking system to keep the detachable butter dish secure.

The butter dish detaches from the warmer; with the ability to sit on the user’s surface as its own piece.

 
The legs are designed to securely fit within the standing base. This accomodates the manufacturing process while providing the desired stability.

C&B Butter Warmer

client: Crate & Barrel

18/8 Stainless-Steel two piece butter warmer

SKILLS & TOOLS UTILIZED
pen, pencil and marker
Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator
Rhino 3D
AutoCAD / Mechanical Desktop

The edges of the dish are pressed and remain attached for easy cleaning. It simultaneously provides the flame enough oxygen to burn, while providing a unique ambience through Crate & Barrel’s chosen lobster design.

The ramekin base is designed to unscrew and detach. This feature allows for easy flame lighting and prevents the user from touching hot metal when finished. 

The pattern and utility were designed through a partnership between myself, the product manager and Crate & Barrel. My design process utilized market research, brainstorming, creating several rough sketches, providing the client with 3D concept renderings, drawing up the mechanicals, then testing and re-testing factory samples.

I purchased and tested several butter warmers that were currently on the market. Identifying their strengths and weaknesses, I applied that knowledge towards my brainstorming and ideation process.

Based upon my market research, I established the most effective traits I wanted to utilize.

I quickly brainstormed then sketched out basic ideas. Using Rhino 3D, I provided the product manager and Crate & Barrel’s head buyer with multiple concepts.

Once the preferred design was chosen, I used AutoCAD to create mechanicals for the engineering of samples and more testing.

Based upon my mechanicals, samples were created to further refine the form and engineering process. Upon receiving the samples, I was able to narrow down my design based upon feedback from the Product Manager and Crate & Barrel.

My final design is a two piece 18/8 Stainless-Steel butter warmer.

It features a detachable base that allows for a convenient way to light the ramekin. It also provides a unique ambience as the lobster cut-outs are illuminated from within and was a top seller for Crate & Barrel.