3/16/2009 2:59:00 PM Providence grad spices things up
Kat Cummins, who grew up in Deephaven, designed these spice containers.
Kat Cummins
By Kelly Westhoff
Kat Cummins, a graduate of Plymouth's Providence Academy and a senior at Notre Dame University, recently won second place in a housewares design competition.
She designed a new and unique container to hold spices. Spice jars sold in stores today are typically round. Cummins' container design, however, is square.
The small cubes easily fit in the palm of a hand and are designed to stack and lock with one another.
Cummins, who grew up in Deephaven, created the design as part of an independent studies course. A double major in graphic and industrial design, her assignment had been to redesign a sports drink bottle.
Her inspiration came, though, one night while cooking. As she struggled with a spice bottle, lightening struck.
"Basically, anything I did to a spice bottle would make it better," Cummins said. "They're hard to get open and they're a pain to store."
A few quick sketches turned into weeks of work and her award-winning design at the prompting of her professors. Cummins estimates she spent nearly three-fourths of a semester on the design.
"I wanted to address four different factors - sustainability, aesthetics, consumer appeal and manufacturing," Cummins said.
Her plastic spice cubes are made of a durable plastic and are intended to be refilled and reused for years.
Because they stack and lock, they are easy to store in a cupboard and don't require any sort of spice rack.
The top includes a measuring device and an easy-pop opening for shaking or scooping.
Recipe cards that are included with the cubes offer advice on mixing Indian, Italian or Caribbean blends so that customers don't have to spend money on multi-spice mixes.
"I'm a minimalist and I was trying to solve my problem in the sleekest way possible while improving function," Cummins said.
"I was totally surprised, but definitely happy, pleased," said Cummins about her second-place win in the Student Design Competition, which is sponsored by the International Housewares Association. This was the contest's 16th year and 205 students submitted designs.
She had felt her application was "strong," she confessed, but also worried her judgment might have been skewed.
"My professors had been so great, so helpful," she said, "but I had kind of been holding my breath. Of course they were supportive. They'd spent hours on the project with me."
"It's been really nice getting recognition from someone other than my professors. It's been really validating," Cummins said.
She was awarded $1,800 and a trip to the International Home + Housewares Show, which takes place in Chicago March 22-24, to display her design.
The show, Cummins explained, is a "huge convention."
Every year, hundreds of houseware companies attend to showcase their wares. It is expected that roughly 60,000 people will attend the show this year.
Cummins, along with the other student winners, will be given booth space to display their inventions.
"I'm really excited for the show," Cummins said. "I'll be exposed to what's up and coming. I'll get to see what's new for Kitchen Aide."
Plus, she said, "For three days, I'll get to talk about my project. I'll have a chance to meet representatives from all the biggest companies and get professional feedback on my design. Maybe it will result in some employment opportunities."
As for the money she won, well, it's been safely tucked away in the bank - for now. Upon her graduation, Cummins hopes to embark on some world travel.
"I have a tentative internship lined up in Australia," she said. "My prize money will definitely help with an overseas experience."
While her invention has warranted lots of attention and praise, Cummins isn't convinced she needs to launch herself as an entrepreneur just yet.
"I don't really know where life will take me," she said. "I would love to do something that involves product and graphic design."
"I would like to work for a design firm, to see what one is and experience that before I start any sort of a freelance career," Cummins said.
In the meantime, however, she is in talks with a potential investor, someone interested in manufacturing her design and moving it to the marketplace.
"We were thinking about selling them in a packet of six," Cummins said. "The pack wouldn't cost more than $15. Probably more like $11."
