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Dune: Flatware Inspired by Molecular Gastronomy

If one stops and considers, it’s easy to come to the conclusion flatware is probably the most commonly used tools in the average household. Nevertheless, most of us rarely consider these utensils beyond their necessity except on those rare occasions – when we move, set a registry, host a housewarming – that compel us to consider the shape, weight, and design of the fork, knife, and spoon. Perhaps that wouldn’t be the case if flatware was designed and presented with such thoughtfully crafted and packaged design as Andrea Ponti’s Dune flatware set.

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The name Dune echoes the shape of the flatware: in each piece the straight handle leads to a curvy transition that resembles a sand dune. The Dune package is freestanding and can be used to easily and elegantly store the flatware set or it can be used as a rack to display the flatware set and show the connection between food and design.

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Ponti explains his sleek and simple combination of utensils with packaging was inspired by the aesthetics and tools of “experimental cuisine and molecular gastronomy”. Thus, each fork, knife and spoon aren’t just modern utensils, but almost presented as clinical tools of a scientist…a food scientist. Aluminum was chosen over typical stainless steel for its ultra-light characteristic, with an anodized finish for durability and making each utensil easier to clean between meals. In relation to the monolithic matte ABS plastic box with insets for each utensil, the presentation is elegantly striking and operates as a display case.

Unfortunately, Dune is currently only a concept, part of the designer’s private collection, which means we’ll all have to settle for what’s already in our kitchen drawers for now.

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Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.