Kingston University graduate Jake Rich has designed Mediumwave, a microwave that prioritises the relationship we have with it – both in terms of how it’s used and how we live with it.
It is common for people to readily accept that everyday objects exist in the way they do for good reason, but challenging these preconceptions can lead to outcomes that are far lovelier to live with. This project that looks to address the way domestic technology is designed and exists within our homes, with the microwave being a key example of a piece of technology that has had very little design consideration.
Mediumwave is the size of a large dinner plate, and its lid is completely separate from the base. When the lid is placed upon the base, it completes the circuit for the microwave to work, and when it’s removed, it breaks it. This means that food is very accessible throughout the cooking process; at any moment you can just tilt the lid back and stir or taste your food – far more immediate than with a traditional microwave.
With a 360-degree view you can see your food wherever you are in the kitchen, providing a more controlled cooking process.
Cooking is more intuitive, and there are only two controls – a power dial and a timer. When you push the timer the microwave starts, and as you cook you can use the dial to vary the power level. Lowering the power level dims the light housed in the lid, and raising the power level makes it brighter. This is a far more tangible way of understanding the power level you are cooking at, and this control and familiarity will hopefully encourage the use of the microwave as a cooking tool.
Simple to clean, the microwave also has wheels to allow flexibility in the kitchen. Push it out the way for more space on the work surface, or move it over so you can clean underneath – it works around you on the worktop.
all images courtesy of JAKE RICH