Sitting down to share a meal with someone is a truly enriching and connective experience. You always feel the need to create an enjoyable and comfortable environment for your dinner partner – especially if you’re hosting the dinner! The correct set of cutlery and tableware is exceptionally important to create a wonderful ambiance for a meal. They have the potential to completely transform your dining experience, taking away attention even from the food! Designers have been getting extremely creative when it comes to cutlery. Hence, we’ve curated a collection of innovative and tiny tableware designs that are sure to be the highlight of your next dinner party, without occupying too much space.
1. Playful Palm Grater
This playful little product is quite aptly called the Playful Palm Grater. It is designed to add some functional fun to your kitchen, and everyday dining experience. You can fit the grater into the palm of your hand, and grate fresh garnishes directly into your food on the dining table, adding a lovely gourmet touch to your meals.
Why is it noteworthy?
The charming tiny product looks like a curled piece of paper. It is crafted from a single aluminum alloy plate and comes in a bunch of fun colors, allowing you to pick the one that best complements your kitchen/dining space.
What we like
- Minimal and unique form that provides a firm grip
- Converts the simple act of grating into something simple and fun
What we dislike
- As much as we love its small and convenient size, that limits it from grating large amounts of food
2. Imre’s Hug Cup
Called Imre’s Hug Cup, this cute little mug was designed to embody the designer’s belief that, “we give special attention to things we use in our everyday life. We like to have a personal relation to the objects we touch closely, such as a cup.” The innovative design offers a unique take on the mug’s traditional side handle.
Why is it noteworthy?
The mug allows users to securely grip the Hug Cup while letting them feel the warmth of the liquid contents inside. Imre says “The whole cup creates an intimate tunnel through the cup itself for your finger, you may enjoy the heat of your beverage without burning your palm.”
What we like
- Provides an innovative and contemporary twist on a typical mug design
What we dislike
- It could take a while to adjust to the new form of the handle. Some users could find it uncomfortable to use
3. Sustainable Cutlery Set
Named the Sustainable Cutlery Set, this sustainable and guilt-free cutlery set is crafted using Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymers or GFRP. The utensils are quite durable and light and are packaged in reusable and recyclable packaging. The cutlery set is designed to last a long time, so you don’t need to stress about their longevity.
Why is it noteworthy?
The set has a lot of mechanical strength, so the knife and fork won’t simply break if your steak is well done. The various elements of the set can be split in half, making them easy to carry around. The parts can be easily screwed and unscrewed while ensuring a strong connection.
What we like
- The cutlery set is sustainable but also made to last
- Easy-to-carry and portable design
What we dislike
- Handles might be too thin for large hands, making them tough to use
4. Plate Grater
This unique grater combines a plate’s functionality with a grater’s practicality. It looks like a round little plate, and you can set it on your table, rather than using it up in the air. It is excellent for grating fresh garnishing to add to your meal, or to prepare some fresh wasabi for your sushi.
Why is it noteworthy?
This innovative grater/plate design is a cool dual-functional product, that serves as an efficient grater, and a stylish plate. It is quite aesthetically pleasing, but also conveniently grates fresh ingredients at the table, adding a refined touch to your food.
What we like
- Lets you grate fresh garnishing onto your meals
- Adds a refined gourmet touch to your meals
What we dislike
- Users may not be used to its dual purpose, so a certain period of adjustment is needed
5. SALT
You don’t need to step out of your home to experience the amazing moment of salt formation. Croatian firm BOIR has now brought this precious experience to your home. Dubbed SALT, this portable saltworks is designed to preserve the authentic taste of natural Mediterranean Sea salt which is rich in minerals and oligo-elements.
Why is it noteworthy?
SALT comes along with a bottle of – Nin 28 Bé° – which is concentrated Adriatic seawater (brine). You just need to pour a thin layer of brine into the salt pan, and expose it to the sun for an hour, heat it in the oven. A crystal pattern then appears, which can be harvested with a mini rake! Serve the salt fresh!
What we like
- Allows you to harvest salt in the comfort of your own home
What we dislike
- The process needs a bit of time and patience and isn’t a quick experience
6. Mt. Fuji Cutlery Rests
Inspired by Japan’s most iconic summit – Mt.Fuji, these Itadaki cutlery provide a luxurious metal accessory that features simple forms with intricate engravings. The rests are lavish little tableware accents, that also serve as testaments to fine craftsmanship. The cutlery’s unique form perfectly encapsulates the mighty mountain.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Japanese-inspired cutlery isn’t simply a flat block of metal, it slightly slopes upwards toward the middle, which forms a flat stump at the peak. This image reminds you of Mt.Fuji, and the curves are great for holding forks, knives, spoons, or chopsticks.
What we like
- The pretty cutlery also captures Japan’s seasons of yielding cherry blossoms
- Created as a tribute to Japanese craftsmanship
What we dislike
- The cutlery set can only hold two utensils
7. Earth-Friendly Tumbler
Say hello to PAPLUS – a new kind of thermoplastic resin that merges biodegradable paper to add heat resistance, durability, and moldability which the usual PLA lacks. This little earth-friendly tumbler is made using this material, making it a boon to the environment.
Why is it noteworthy?
The earth-friendly tumbler utilizes an environment-friendly material to build a unique texture, which is much like the surface of ceramic or wooden cups. As you take a sip from the tumbler, a wonderful flavor is brought to your tongue, which creates a unique sensation on your lips.
What we like
- It elevates the simple act of drinking water to an entirely new sensory experience
- It has a heat resistance of 120°, letting you enjoy hot as well as cold drinks
What we dislike
- The natural color of the tumbler can fade from use, and become uneven over time, which may not be liked by users
8. Electric Chopsticks
This innovative project by Kirin Holdings and the Miyashita Laboratory (Meiji University Dr. Homei Miyashita Laboratory of the Department of Frontier Media Science, School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences) is not only a great tableware for your dinner table but also takes care of your health concerns!
Why is it noteworthy?
The chopsticks are created to make low-sodium food delicious, so you can relish food with low-sodium content, letting you take good care of your health. The chopsticks are a must-have for those who need to go on a low-sodium diet.
What we like
- Builds a sense of saltiness in low-sodium food
- The chopsticks use a weak electrical current to transmit sodium ions from the food to your mouth
What we dislike
- It’s still in the prototype stage, not an actual product yet, so we don’t know how well it will function in reality
9. Eatsy
Jexter asked himself a simple question, “How might we design an adaptive tableware to enhance the dining experience for the visually impaired?”. And he then created Eatsy – a set of multi-functional tableware including a plate, bowl, cup, and other utensils incorporated with a silicone flap.
Why is it noteworthy?
The unique silicone flap can be used to increase the ease of usage while reducing the stigma by merging with existing tableware. It is designed for the visually impaired, allowing them to feel the edge of the container, and helping them through their tasks, by guiding them to pour water correctly into the cup.
What we like
- Subtly offer unique sensory cues for the visually impaired
What we dislike
- Requires user to have a firm grip on the cup
10. Earth-Stacking Cup
You can now enjoy your favorite beverage in a minimal and stylish stacking cup which is designed to save the environment. It is crafted from eco-friendly synthetic materials and has a unique texture which makes the drinking experience quite sensory and engaging.
Why is it noteworthy?
The texture of the cup is like ceramic or wood, and it provides a sensory experience to your mouth and lips. The cup embodies minimal aesthetics and sustainable practices and provides a soul-enriching drinking experience that you will never forget.
What we like
- The cup is crafted from plant-derived biodegradable resin
- Material biodegrades into water and carbon dioxide through natural microbial action
What we dislike
- The cup is quite common to other cups on the market, nothing sets it apart
