We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Prompong Hakk about their original and creative knifeblock design work. Prompong Hakk is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original knifeblock works.
Prompong Hakk ("PH") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work a-maze knifeblock. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
PH : When designing a-maze I first wanted to tackle problems of hygiene and secondly problems of space. Most knife blocks I had come across were extremely large for the storage they offered. Inspired by the variable widths of knives I drew blocks for each of them and realized that I could configure them in this maze which then led me to creating the final a-maze Design.
PH : I wanted to create a really simple, innovative yet visually interesting design piece. It was imperative that SNF's first product would create enough hype to support SNF's design led brand vision. That's why a-maze had to create a unique stand in the world of knife blocks.
PH : a-maze will become SNF's flagship design and the inspiration to new additions for the SNF range. There are plans to refine the Design further such as a slanted option and additional shapes.
PH : We worked on a-maze's concept for about one month with three months in production development before our first safety passing working prototype was finished.
PH : a-maze was designed as a pitch to WIKO cutlery. We followed our own brief and our own insight to come up with a range of various knife blocks with a-maze catching the eye of WIKO's founder Jonathan Lo who then supported its development and our current working relationship on developing the SNF brand.
PH : a-maze design is produced by the WIKO Cutlery group under the SNF brand.
PH : We were pitching for a job with WIKO Cutlery.
PH : All people who value a different take on a knife block.
PH : a-maze is extremely compact in comparison to other knife blocks. It also stores knives in a very organized way despite its unique looks.
PH : The name was really part of the Design and became of full meaning when the Design was finished.
PH : Sketching and CAD.
PH : The maze formation and storage of multiple knives.
PH : The Design was created to be made using existing technologies.
PH : One of the challenges was to make the Design drop-proof from a standard table counter. This requires the change from an originally slanted version to a straight up Design.
PH : I came across the A’Design award by looking up another Designer who was affiliated with it.
PH : Being one of my first commercially successful Designs, a-maze has launched an array of new ideas for me and injected me with more confidence in my Design style and belief.
