Butter Warmer

client: Crate & Barrel

An 18/8 Stainless-Steel two piece butter warmer.

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.

My process ultimately provided Crate & Barrel a highly successful product and well-executed design.

Poser Skate Trips

A concept I designed for an app that would allow the user to select a wide range of filters and apply them to search criteria involving a multi-stop skate trip.

My idea began with the user selecting various filters and then applying them to various distances from their selected location.

Poser is a skateboarding application that helps the user prioritize their interests and then select destinations based around these priorities.

I purchased and tested several butter warmers that were currently on the market.

I identified their strengths and weaknesses and applied that knowledge towards my brainstorming and ideation process.

I utilized competitive analysis for four  apps similar to my concept.

I identified the key differences & factors that made them uniquely valuable to the user, as well as the apps’ underserved & poorly considered features. Taking the test results and applying them towards my concept.

Based upon my product testing, I established the most effective traits I wanted to utilize in my design.

I quickly brainstormed then sketched out basic ideas. Then using Rhino 3D, I provided the product manager and Crate & Barrel’s Head Buyer with many, many concepts.

Based upon my analysis, I established the main two goals- creating a skate trip and filtering preferences.

I quickly sketched out my basic ideas. Through paper prototyping, I began testing the most pertinent information needed to create an app that would achieve my goals.

Based upon the chosen design, I used AutoCAD to create mechanicals for the engineering of samples and more testing.

Through paper prototype testing, I established the importance and preferences of buttons and their placements. Using Balsamiq, I wireframed the most effective flow.


 

Based upon my mechanicals, I had samples 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.

Using the results from my wireframe and Balsamiq testing, I created a high fidelity prototype.

From there, I recorded various test subjects using my design. I prepared a test script and took video to better understand facial expressions and user nuance.

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. 

After several rounds of prototypes and testing, Poser is a skateboarding application that helps the user prioritize their interests and then select destinations based around these priorities.