The Invention of the Spoon
A theoretical case study on the invention of a stunning piece of true (non digital) user experience
In a world where nobody has heard of the spoon, people are compelled to eat their food with the use of a fork - from soups to ice cream. The inefficiency of eating these with only a fork has caused a lot of dissatisfaction in dining - innovation was called for. This case study gives an theoretical overview of the user experience challenges that may exist in a world without spoons, and how, in response, the invention of the spoon may have happened.
Enlargement of painting by Edvard Cooke de la Creme c1793. 'Kitchen Horror 2'.
Painting by Francesco Neapolitano c1499. 'Sticky Hands' . Depicting people eating ice cream with their hands and using forks, looking obviously disgusted. Neapolitano is the namesake for Neapolitan ice cream.
The problem
Ice cream is a popular dessert enjoyed by people of all ages throughout history. However, the lack of a suitable delivery device has always significantly hampered the enjoyment.
The two most common delivery methods are - Using your hands to scoop it and using a fork.
Yuck.
User journey
What is the Job to be Done?
The user has to use their hands, or a fork to move the ice cream from the bowl to their mouth
Pain point
Hands, or a fork? Both not ideal options. Left with either sticky fingers, or a time consuming effort
Ice cream is dumped by hand into onto a bowl
Pain point
The user is at the whim of the shop keepers hygiene
"I want ice cream"
They go to the nearest ice cream shop in the town square
User experience challengers
Observations
To understand the depth of the problem, user observations and interviews were conducted
Hands are dirty
And ice cream is sticky
Difficulty in scooping
It's hard to scoop with a fork. It can't effectively hold soft or melted ice cream. The tines of the fork don't work for holding ice cream in place, and it tends to fall off, wasting lots of it.
Gets messy with melting
Ice cream is likely to start melting immediately if touched by the warm hand of a person. This results in a lot of mess. And attracts a lot of bugs.
Frustration and discomfort
The difficulty of eating ice cream with a fork is a serious user pain point, reducing the overall pleasure of eating the dessert.
Prolonged eating time
The inefficiency of using a fork extended the time taken to finish a serving of ice cream, which was particularly problematic when ice cream was served in a social setting or as a quick snack.
Key user feedback
Users expressed a strong need for a utensil and delivery device that could -
A. Efficiently scoop both hard and soft ice cream
B. Minimize spillage and melting
C. Enhance the overall ice cream eating experience by being more comfortable and user-friendly
Research
Biomimicry and finding the answer in nature
Inspiration in the natural world included the way that several animals use their mouths and shapes in nature to effectively collect and consume food and liquids.
Noticing this, we applied a biomimicry approach - trusting and copying patterns and strategies found in nature. This lead to number of eureka moments that resulted in the concepts of the form of the spoon.
The Pelican
Observation
The inventor noticed how the pelican’s beak, with its hard structure and capacity to hold squirming wet fish and gallons of water, mirrored the need for a tool that could scoop and contain ice cream without spilling.
Inspiration
The idea of a curved, concave surface capable of holding a substance securely was directly inspired by the pelican’s beak.
The Dog's Tongue
Observation
Watching dogs drink, the inventor saw the efficiency of a flexible, scooping action that formed a temporary bowl to lift water into the mouth.
Inspiration
This observation contributed to the concept of a utensil that could scoop up and hold ice cream in a similar fashion, mimicking the natural scooping action of a dog’s tongue.
The Human Hand
Observation
The inventor observed how people naturally cupped their hands to drink water or scoop food, forming a temporary spoon shape with their palms and fingers.
Inspiration
The ergonomic, cupped shape of the hand influenced the design of the spoon’s bowl, ensuring it would be comfortable to use and effective in holding ice cream.
The Spoonbill
Observation
The inventor observed the Spoonbill’s unique beak, which flattens out into a broad, spoon-like shape, perfect for sifting through water and mud to find food.
Inspiration
The broad, flat shape of the Spoonbill’s beak was the final piece of the puzzle, directly influencing the shape of the spoon, making it ideal for scooping and holding ice cream.
The Spoonbill would later serve as inspiration for the name. After trying variations on "Pelifork" and "Dog Licker", the shortening to "Spoon" fell into most common usage.
Concepts
Exploring alternative concepts
During the development phase, three different concepts for the "spoon" were explored to address the identified challenges. Each concept was developed by a different designer, and all three were put into a Voice of Customer cycle at 3 ice cream shops over a four week period.
Concept 1.
The 'Pelican'
The first concept focused on creating a utensil that mimicked the shape of the pelican beak.
Unfortunately, it missed the brief and focused too much on resembling a bird, and missed the function.
When they were put into user testing the initial prototypes proved terrifying to customers and servers alike.
Concept 2.
The 'Dog Tongue'
The concept behind this was to mimic the shape a dogs tongue makes when lapping up water. Creating 'vertical scoop' to pick up and deliver the ice cream.
The visual cues have been taken from a bird, since the imagery of a salivating dogs tongue isn't the most appealing thing.
Concept 3.
The 'Spoonbill'
The form was originally taken from a deceased carcass of a Spoonbill found in the Natural History Museum. However, this mock up was manufactured from a non conductive stainless steel.
The production of this lead to the development of a mould and 'production line' technique meaning it could (if needs be) be easily reproduced.
Voice of Customer
Key user feedback
After ordering, receiving and eating their ice cream, users where asked questions about the experience
Initial impression
1. Did you notice anything different about the experience today?
2. If so, what was it?
3. Did this get a reaction from you, or was it somewhat expected?
4. Out of 5, how would you rate the experience?
For use in scooping and serving
1. Did you find the learning curve was manageable?
2. How did it feel in the hand?
3. Out of 5, how would you rate the experience?
For use in eating
1. Did you find the learning curve was manageable?
2. Are your fingers sticky?
3. Out of 5, how would you rate the experience?
Key takeaways included
"What the hell is wrong with the person who thinks I want to serve my precious ice cream from a birds head?"
A disgruntled former fan of birds, but not into them as a food delivery device
"I really appreciate that the server isn't fisting my ice cream with their grubby mitts"
Not a fan of hands, apparently
"Wow! What is this magic? I won't have to worry about finding plasters in here anymore! Genius"
This use did not like the extra toppings. But now they do not have to worry
Results
After compiling and averaging the rating system for 12,016 users and 150 servers we had the results
The 'Pelican'
Initial impression
For use in scooping
For use in eating
Overall
The 'Dog Tongue'
Initial impression
For use in scooping
For use in eating
Overall
The 'Spoonbill'
Initial impression
For use in scooping
For use in eating
Overall
Resolved critical issues
The success of the 'Spoonbill' addressed these critical issues, transforming the ice cream eating experience
The name was change to just 'Spoon' after a meeting, when to save time people naturally dropped the 'bill'
Curved design
The spoon’s concave shape allows for easy scooping and holding of ice cream, regardless of its consistency.
Heat conductivity
Made from materials that balance conductivity, the spoon minimises the melting of ice cream during scooping and eating.
Heat conductivity
Made from materials that balance conductivity, the spoon minimises the melting of ice cream during scooping and eating.
"This is the best thing since sliced bread"
Avid ice cream fan outside the first shop to implement the use of the spoon. Sliced bread was invented two years earlier
Impact on user experience
How did this have a direct and measurable impact on people and their enjoyment of ice cream?
Efficiency
With the introduction of the spoon, users were able to scoop and consume ice cream more efficiently. The curved design facilitated easy lifting of ice cream without the need for multiple attempts.
Cleanliness
The spoon significantly reduced spillage and mess. Users reported a cleaner eating experience with less melting and dripping compared to using their hands.
Satisfaction
User satisfaction increased dramatically. The spoon not only made eating ice cream easier but also more enjoyable. The frustration associated with forks was eliminated, leading to a more pleasant and fulfilling dessert experience.
Conclusion
The invention of the spoon addressed a critical gap in the user experience of eating ice cream. By providing a practical and efficient solution, the spoon transformed the way people enjoy this popular dessert.
This case study highlights the importance of understanding user needs and innovating to enhance everyday experiences.
The spoon, a simple yet effective invention, showcases how thoughtful design can significantly improve the quality of life.
Credits
Concept
Matt Beauchamp Buck
Text
Matt Beauchamp Buck
Layout
Matt Beauchamp Buck
Images
Created by Midjourney - Prompted by Matt Beauchamp Buck