Kitchen Knife Handle Design : Mapping Hand Anatomy & Grip Patterns to Design an Ergonomic Knife Handle

Sammanfattning

This thesis explores the ergonomic and functional design of kitchen knife handles, with a focus on improving grip, comfort, and user interaction using geometry and surface textures. This project is grounded in principles from industrial design engineering, ergonomics, biomechanics, and materials science, addressing the complicated relationships between the human hand and handheld tools. The project has been carried out with a Research through design (RTD) approach combined with User-centered design (UCD) principles. This enables an iterative development with prototyping, user testing and theoretical integration. Previous investigations were domain immersion, literature studies, benchmarking, interviews and scenario-based analysis to be able to establish an in-depth understanding of the concepts used and the existing design limitations. The design process consisted of exploratory prototyping where more models were shaped by users, who then took the form of the natural grips in the geometry of the handle. These shapes were analyzed and converted into CAD models and physical prototypes. A series of handles were developed that were used in a user test with 44 participants who evaluated variations in the dimensions of the handle, to identify the relationship between hand size, geometry and perceived comfort. At the same time, the project explored interactions between the hand and the surfaces of the handles using tactile mapping and analysis of papillary ridge patterns in the hand. This led to the development of a directional and adaptive surface texture designed to increase the friction and control of the knife in various circumstances, such as wet and prolonged use. This project also took on the challenge of creating an ambidextrous surface structure that allows versatile use of the right and left hand. The results showed how optimal handle design requires a balance between comfort and control, where factors such as material compliance, force distribution and localized pressure points play a critical role. These insights underline that anatomically based geometries combined with contact-specific surface layer structure can improve grip performance and reduce user fatigue. This thesis contributes to the IDE by synthesizing theoretical knowledge and experimental insights into practical design principles for kitchen knife handles. These findings create a foundation for future development of ergonomically adapted tools and provide transferable insights for the design of other handheld products that are challenged by complex human-machine interactions.