The development of the plate went through all stages of the design process. Research included competitor market research, portion sizes (cross cultural), parent and children mealtime prep and eating behaviours, suction cup size, and surface testing before going into iterative prototyping testing with parents and children. The final design also went through DFM, standards compliance, and minimised packaging development to ensure the product meets global regulations and safety standards.
The product has passed all regulations and standards requirements and is already being sold on the market with great success in sales numbers and reviews by parents.
Addressing the brief, the following was achieved leading to the success of a product well received by parents:
- A robust suction cup was designed to allow the plate to stay in place, without sliding on most home surfaces, helping reduce mealtime mess.
- An inward curved overhang on the divider helps guide food onto utensils and minimise spills. This empowers children to eat more effectively while they are still working on their fine motor skills.
- A modular design with a removable divider and suction cup means the plate can accommodate different foods from fruit and purees to large sandwiches or pancakes, growing with the child.
- All parts can be separated to make it easy to clean and recycle. Unlike co- moulded suction cups which cannot be recycled when used with mixed materials.
- Parts can be replaced.
- The materials chosen are durable and will maintain function for a long time.