Salad tongs: designing flow forms

The purpose of this project is to understand the ways in which flowing lines can be used. How do two lines play off of one another, create and stop flow, and direct the eye? To explore these issues we were tasked to design and craft a pair of salad tongs. Made from blocks of 1" X 2" X 7" maple wood, we were allowed two cut lines of the top face and two cuts on the side.

sketching forms

Drawing at first only the orthographic top and side view of the forms allows you to refine the exact curves used, study how they play off one another, and exercises your brains ability to create 3D forms.

Prototype models

Making and holding the models is the best way to see whats working and whats not. 

desired grip

Sketching and studying the type of grip I was looking to used helped refine the shape of the curves.

final model

Made using the orthographic sketches to cut out the side and top shapes with a band saw and hand sanding to finish.

Product shot

Final models were photographed for presentation.