Mastering your Kitchen DoughJO
Mastering your Kitchen DoughJO
From a lengthy tradition to a 20-minute solution in producing fresh pasta
From a lengthy tradition to a 20-minute solution in producing fresh pasta
Mastering your Kitchen DoughJO
From a lengthy tradition to a 20-minute solution in producing fresh pasta
Summary:
Summary:
Making fresh pasta at home is time-consuming and labour-intensive. I designed a pasta maker that simplifies the process by weighing, mixing and kneading ingredients automatically, while allowing users to extrude nine different pasta shapes in just 20 minutes.
Making fresh pasta at home is time-consuming and labour-intensive. I designed a pasta maker that simplifies the process by weighing, mixing and kneading ingredients automatically, while allowing users to extrude nine different pasta shapes in just 20 minutes.
The Recreational Chef's Dilema
The Recreational Chef's Dilema
During my year in industry, the shift from the flexible university lifestyle to a 9-5 routine hit hard. As someone who loves cooking and sharing meals with friends and family, I missed spending hours in the kitchen perfecting recipes.
With work and social commitments piling up, I turned to quick fixes—ready meals and takeaways—sacrificing quality for convenience. Frustrated, I wondered: Why does cooking from scratch take so long? Is there a way to enjoy fresh, homemade meals without all the time?
During my year in industry, the shift from the flexible university lifestyle to a 9-5 routine hit hard. As someone who loves cooking and sharing meals with friends and family, I missed spending hours in the kitchen perfecting recipes.
With work and social commitments piling up, I turned to quick fixes—ready meals and takeaways—sacrificing quality for convenience. Frustrated, I wondered: Why does cooking from scratch take so long? Is there a way to enjoy fresh, homemade meals without all the time?
The average weekly hours for full time workers in the UK in 2023 (May-July) was 36.4 hours.
The average weekly hours for full time workers in the UK in 2023 (May-July) was 36.4 hours.
British households spend around half as much time preparing an evening meal now then they did in the 1980s.
British households spend around half as much time preparing an evening meal now then they did in the 1980s.
Over a 2 year period (2019-2021) the average annual spend per person on takeaways rose 42%, from £452 to £641.
Over a 2 year period (2019-2021) the average annual spend per person on takeaways rose 42%, from £452 to £641.
Pasta in 20
Pasta in 20
Who doesn’t love pasta? I know I do. The difference between quick, dried pasta and hand-crafted restaurant pasta is undeniable. But while chefs have hours to perfect it, most of us don’t. Weighing, kneading, resting—it’s a time-consuming process for busy lives.
So I wondered: Could we make fresh pasta in a fraction of the time? What if homemade pasta took just 20 minutes?
Who doesn’t love pasta? I know I do. The difference between quick, dried pasta and hand-crafted restaurant pasta is undeniable. But while chefs have hours to perfect it, most of us don’t. Weighing, kneading, resting—it’s a time-consuming process for busy lives.
So I wondered: Could we make fresh pasta in a fraction of the time? What if homemade pasta took just 20 minutes?
Breaking Down the Pasta Process
Breaking Down the Pasta Process
Research was critical and I started with hands-on research to understand the traditional pasta-making process. Using a pasta roller, it took 1 hour and 20 minutes, offering valuable insights.
Weighing and Mixing ingredients was messy and added time for clean-up.
Kneading took 10 minutes, was physically demanding and required skill.
The dough needed to rest for at least 30 minutes.
Rolling and cutting the dough had a learning curve and was challenging to manage alone, taking 30 minutes.
Cleaning up the equipment added another 10 minutes.
Research was critical and I started with hands-on research to understand the traditional pasta-making process. Using a pasta roller, it took 1 hour and 20 minutes, offering valuable insights.
Weighing and Mixing ingredients was messy and added time for clean-up.
Kneading took 10 minutes, was physically demanding and required skill.
The dough needed to rest for at least 30 minutes.
Rolling and cutting the dough had a learning curve and was challenging to manage alone, taking 30 minutes.
Cleaning up the equipment added another 10 minutes.
Ingredient Mixing
Dough Kneading
Pasta Rolling
Pasta Cutting
Ingredient Mixing
Dough Kneading
Pasta Rolling
Pasta Cutting
Ingredient Mixing
Dough Kneading
Pasta Rolling
Pasta Cutting
Ingredient Mixing
Dough Kneading
Pasta Rolling
Pasta Cutting
Problems to Possibilities
Problems to Possibilities
From the research it provided several problems to explore in the initial design phase:
How can we make incorporating ingredients easier and reduce clean-up time?
How can we lessen the physical demand of kneading?
Can we simplify the cutting process to reduce time and effort?
Can we minimize the clean-up required after making pasta?
From the research it provided several problems to explore in the initial design phase:
How can we make incorporating ingredients easier and reduce clean-up time?
How can we lessen the physical demand of kneading?
Can we simplify the cutting process to reduce time and effort?
Can we minimize the clean-up required after making pasta?
Thinking On Paper
Thinking On Paper
The design phase started with sketching as many ideas as possible, without worrying about how wild they seemed. The goal was to stay fast and loose—letting creativity flow freely. By putting ideas on paper, I could explore different concepts, some of which sparked inspiration and evolved into more refined solutions.
This process was directly influenced by the opportunities uncovered in the research phase, allowing me to visualise how to simplify ingredient handling, reduce physical effort and streamline the pasta-making process.
The design phase started with sketching as many ideas as possible, without worrying about how wild they seemed. The goal was to stay fast and loose—letting creativity flow freely. By putting ideas on paper, I could explore different concepts, some of which sparked inspiration and evolved into more refined solutions.
This process was directly influenced by the opportunities uncovered in the research phase, allowing me to visualise how to simplify ingredient handling, reduce physical effort and streamline the pasta-making process.
Thinking On Paper
The design phase started with sketching as many ideas as possible, without worrying about how wild they seemed. The goal was to stay fast and loose—letting creativity flow freely. By putting ideas on paper, I could explore different concepts, some of which sparked inspiration and evolved into more refined solutions.
This process was directly influenced by the opportunities uncovered in the research phase, allowing me to visualise how to simplify ingredient handling, reduce physical effort and streamline the pasta-making process.
Focusing the Vision
Focusing the Vision
With a vast range of ideas on the table, it became clear that not everything could be fully explored. Using my initial sketches and combining concepts that complemented each other, I narrowed the focus to three distinct strategies:
Concept 1: A fully automated process that simplifies pasta-making into one seamless system, from start to finish.
Concept 2: A two-step process, separating the mixing/kneading from rolling/extruding for greater control and flexibility.
Concept 3: A design focused on minimizing cleanup, creating a hassle-free experience for users.
With a vast range of ideas on the table, it became clear that not everything could be fully explored. Using my initial sketches and combining concepts that complemented each other, I narrowed the focus to three distinct strategies:
Concept 1: A fully automated process that simplifies pasta-making into one seamless system, from start to finish.
Concept 2: A two-step process, separating the mixing/kneading from rolling/extruding for greater control and flexibility.
Concept 3: A design focused on minimizing cleanup, creating a hassle-free experience for users.
Concept 1
Concept 2
Concept 3
Refining the design
Refining the design
Each concept was developed further through sketches and cardboard models to explore scale and functionality. I evaluated them to highlight areas for improvement: Concept 1 was the fastest, Concept 2 guided users intuitively, and Concept 3 made clean-up easy with its integrated design. While all had strengths, Concept 2 offered the most satisfying user experience. The challenge then was to incorporate the speed of Concept 1 and the easy clean-up of Concept 3 into Concept 2. Through iterative design and prototyping, I refined these elements into the final solution.
Each concept was developed further through sketches and cardboard models to explore scale and functionality. I evaluated them to highlight areas for improvement: Concept 1 was the fastest, Concept 2 guided users intuitively, and Concept 3 made clean-up easy with its integrated design. While all had strengths, Concept 2 offered the most satisfying user experience. The challenge then was to incorporate the speed of Concept 1 and the easy clean-up of Concept 3 into Concept 2. Through iterative design and prototyping, I refined these elements into the final solution.
Prototyping saves the day
Prototyping saves the day
As development continued, I designed an automated extrusion mechanism to push kneaded dough through pasta-shaped dies, eliminating the need for users to roll and cut dough by hand. It sounded promising, but would it actually work? Prototyping was key to finding out. Through iterations of 3D-printed designs, I was able to test and refine the mechanism.
As development continued, I designed an automated extrusion mechanism to push kneaded dough through pasta-shaped dies, eliminating the need for users to roll and cut dough by hand. It sounded promising, but would it actually work? Prototyping was key to finding out. Through iterations of 3D-printed designs, I was able to test and refine the mechanism.
Fast Tracking the Aesthetic with AI
Fast Tracking the Aesthetic with AI
With the deadline fast approaching and the function developed, it was time to focus on the aesthetic identity. Using AI tools like Vizcom, I was able to quickly iterate on colour schemes, finishes and materials. This rapid exploration allowed me to immediately see what didn’t work and refine what did, helping me create a appealing design efficiently.
With the deadline fast approaching and the function developed, it was time to focus on the aesthetic identity. Using AI tools like Vizcom, I was able to quickly iterate on colour schemes, finishes and materials. This rapid exploration allowed me to immediately see what didn’t work and refine what did, helping me create a appealing design efficiently.
The DoughJO Pasta Maker
The DoughJO Pasta Maker
The development process culminated in the DoughJo, an integrated automated pasta machine that produces fresh pasta in just 20 minutes.
The development process culminated in the DoughJo, an integrated automated pasta machine that produces fresh pasta in just 20 minutes.
The DoughJO Pasta Maker
The development process culminated in the DoughJo, an integrated automated pasta machine that produces fresh pasta in just 20 minutes.
Auto-Weighing
Auto-Weighing
Integrated load cells allow users to quickly and accurately measure ingredients.
Integrated load cells allow users to quickly and accurately measure ingredients.
Effortless Kneading
Effortless Kneading
Knead fresh dough in just 10 minutes. Customise ingredients or use pre-set options for perfect dough consistency, every time.
Knead fresh dough in just 10 minutes. Customise ingredients or use pre-set options for perfect dough consistency, every time.
Recipe Variety
Recipe Variety
The DoughJo offers 9 pasta shapes based on UK demographic trends, including farfalle, tagliatelle, lasagne, penne, linguine, conchiglie, spaghetti, macaroni and fusilli.
The DoughJo offers 9 pasta shapes based on UK demographic trends, including farfalle, tagliatelle, lasagne, penne, linguine, conchiglie, spaghetti, macaroni and fusilli.
Pasta Drying
Pasta Drying
Pasta can be cut and hung at a 30cm length, allowing it to air dry before cooking.
Pasta can be cut and hung at a 30cm length, allowing it to air dry before cooking.
Hands On Extrusion
Hands On Extrusion
Enjoy the tactile experience of pasta-making without the hassle— making it both fun and efficient.
Enjoy the tactile experience of pasta-making without the hassle— making it both fun and efficient.
A Journey In Design
A Journey In Design
This was one of the most challenging projects I've undertaken, and at times it felt overwhelming. However, it reinforced the importance of testing and validating design decisions through prototyping, ensuring that real problems identified in research were addressed. The outcome is something I’m extremely proud of. Every detail, every component was thoughtfully designed with a clear purpose, pushing me to a new level of depth and refinement in my work.
This was one of the most challenging projects I've undertaken, and at times it felt overwhelming. However, it reinforced the importance of testing and validating design decisions through prototyping, ensuring that real problems identified in research were addressed. The outcome is something I’m extremely proud of. Every detail, every component was thoughtfully designed with a clear purpose, pushing me to a new level of depth and refinement in my work.