The final project for PD 330 was to design a handheld vacuum. Sam presented the approach of considering pleasurable hand motions as inspiration. If the requirement for the vacuum was simply for it to be handheld, then why not apply a motion you know to be satisfying to it?

This led me to the bench scraper. First given to me by my Aunt in 8th grade, I believe, the bench scraper has been the pinnacle of a handheld motion in my mind ever since. It was also a logical stream of thought and intersection of two devices, a vacuum and the scraper, both used for cleaning surfaces.

The one downfall of the bench scraper is that while it is ultimately effective in corralling any and all crumbs and such on a surface, it doesn't discard of them. Income vacuum. Able to suction all of the assembled grit for easy disposal, the marriage made perfect sense.

Aesthetically I aimed to keep the refined simplicity that the bench scraper is known for, while also updating and reconsidering it in an innovative manner to acknowledge the technology that is involved. Key visual influences include Dieter Rams, an image of various tan materials overlayed, my bench scraper, and a screenshot from Kerby Jean-Raymond’s instagram story. All visible via a link at the top right of this page.