ROTO GRIP

Cheese Sampling Tool, in collaboration with Norrmejerier

Details:
Collaboration partner: Norrmejerier

Year 1, Industrial Design Bachelor, Umeå Institute of Design

10 Weeks — 2025
Tools: Figma, Photoshop, Blender

Assignment:

Design a new tool for Norrmejerier

ABOUT

A design process driven by curiosity, iteration, and material exploration.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Current cheese sampling tools used in dairies and food laboratories are often uncomfortable, difficult to clean, and ergonomically poor.
Existing products lack design refinement and intuitive handling, which can result in inconsistent sampling, safety risks, and user fatigue.

Roto Grip aims to redefine this process — transforming a technical, industrial action into a more precise, safe, and human-centered experience.

DESIGN GOALS

1. Ergonomic Precision
→ Develop a comfortable grip and motion that minimizes wrist strain.
2. Hygiene and Maintenance
→ Design with smooth, detachable parts to allow for easy cleaning and sterilization.
3. Mechanical Logic
→ Ensure the rotating and gripping mechanisms feel intuitive and reliable.
4. Aesthetic Refinement
→ Give the tool a professional yet elegant appearance — industrial design that feels crafted.
5. Safety and Control
→ Integrate visual and tactile cues to make operation safe and guided.

CORE CHALLANGES

Improve ergonomics for frequent use in professional environments.
Enable precise and consistent sampling without damaging the cheese wheel.
Simplify disassembly and cleaning.
Balance industrial functionality with a premium, durable aesthetic.
Create a clear mechanical concept that feels intuitive and controlled.

FUNCTION AND FORM ANALYSIS

The analysis aimed to understand the product’s structure, purpose, and user interaction. Through the Kesselring method, each function was evaluated in terms of technical, practical, and emotional value. This process clarified which features define the product’s core meaning and guided design decisions toward greater coherence and usability.

DESIGN SOLUTION

The result is a design solution in the form of a new handheld tool featuring a wheel that allows the user to apply forward pressure with a two-handed grip and to twist using both hands or the entire arm. This design provides greater control, reduces strain on wrists and shoulders, and makes the task easier and safer for staff over time.

Read REPORT

IDEATION / SKETCHING

Early sketches led me from industrial machinery to human touch.

The ideation phase explored a wide range of concepts — from large mechanical devices to compact handheld solutions.

Through rapid sketching, form studies, and functional exploration, the focus gradually shifted toward a more personal and intuitive interaction.

After feedback sessions with Norrmejerier, the design direction moved from large-scale systems to a refined, ergonomic hand tool — emphasizing control, precision, and simplicity in use.

PROTOTYPING

Foam/Steel prototyping, 3D-modeling.

COLLABORATION

About Norrmejerier