Projects/Group project · QUT with Brisbane City Council
A public barbecue redesigned around how a multicultural community actually cooks and gathers.
At a glance
Standard public barbecues limit the cooking styles and large gatherings of Forest Lake’s 48,000 residents.
Research and user observations in the ward identified five clear problems.
A modular barbecue with a wok burner, precision hotplates and a sink, built on a prefabricated frame.
Presentation model, specification report and product brochure, designed for local sheet metal manufacture.
The problem
Forest Lake Ward in Brisbane’s south is home to over 48,000 residents and a community that prides itself on supporting people from many backgrounds, including large Indigenous Australian, Vietnamese, Indian, South American and Pacific Islander communities.
Their cooking preferences and large social gatherings were being limited by the existing barbecue infrastructure.
residents in Forest Lake Ward, from a multitude of cultures and backgrounds.
The brief
Design a new barbecue for Brisbane City Council that accommodates the cultural diversity and meal preparation needs of the Forest Lake Ward community.
Research
Research and user observations in Forest Lake identified five problems with the existing barbecues.
Approach
Each team member explored the brief independently first, so we could cover many directions quickly. My concepts ranged from affordable to desirable.
Through consultation with academic staff and the clients, the strongest elements from across the team’s concepts were selected and developed further.
Solution
A modular public barbecue. In its standard configuration it has two hotplate modules, a sink module and a butane wok burner module.
From research to design
01Drop-in modules
The wok burner gives familiar open-flame cooking: bring a butane canister and a wok or pan, drop the canister in and start cooking. The hotplate adds precise control from 75 to 275°C, a large touch interface and a lit surround that shows when it is active. The sink has a deep basin and a swivelling head that dispenses water by proximity sensor.
02Universal design
Every function was designed for universal access, in line with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, AS 1428.1 design for access and mobility, AS/NZS 3000:2018 wiring standards and Food Standard 3.2.3.
03Usability
Language options, universal symbols, cooking recommendations and a redesigned interface make the barbecue easier to use for everyone.
04Assembly
A prefabricated 2 mm SHS frame is placed, aligned and secured with four anchor bolts. The panels attach to the frame and the modules drop in.
05Structure
The load-bearing frame carries every other part. To relocate the barbecue, remove four bolts and winch the whole unit onto a flatbed truck.
06Manufacture
Every sheet metal part was designed for local sourcing and manufacture, nested for minimal material waste and flat-packed to reduce storage and transport costs.
Making
Development models and mock-ups were built alongside the CAD, leading to the final presentation model.
Development models6 photos
Presentation model5 photos
Outcome
The project was handed over with a specification report and a product brochure.
Contact
Open to freelance, industrial design, product development and design engineering opportunities.
Do you have something in mind?
Any ideas, big or small.
Let’s create together and bring your vision to life.
