The just mix

My task was to conduct thorough market research into the independent living standards of those entering retirement age or who are beginning to experience difficulties with mobility, dexterity and fine motor skills when cooking.

The aim was to analyse the sort of kitchen utensils, cookware and aids they rely on day to day in order to identify areas for improvement or potential product gaps in the market in order to maintain their independence in the kitchen.

Independent think tanks, Age Charity and Strategic Society Centre reported on the daily struggles of the elderly, citing that 8.6 million people in England aged 65 and above, of which 4 million are living at home with limited day-to-day activities, experience difficulty with daily tasks such as cooking and cleaning.

• 1 in 4 of our elderly (roughly 560,000) have needs classified as severe. Of which, 160,000 say they receive inadequate help and 70,000 say they receive no help whatsoever. 

There is a stigma amongst the elderly where they perceive their aging to be burdensome to their families. As a result, they are more likely to socially regress so as not to trouble family members with needing extra assistance. 

This is now more urgence on finding affordable solutions to make their independence easier and for longer, when they aren't typically comfortable asking for support or aren't able to afford the right sort of support. 

This is in a further bid to reduce ever growing pressure on our NHS services who are experiencing an increased number of call outs to the elderly who have insufficient daily support in place.  A focus on support must be provided in order to "keep people out of hospital and support them in their homes for as long as possible". (Triggle, N 2014)

The key selling point of Just Mix is its suction base. A large silicone base with a lever is screwed into the base of the mixing bowel. On a flat work top surface, when the bowl is positioned and the lever pushed down, it forms a suction between the bowl and the work surface,  holding the bowl in place. 

This prevents general mess from cooking mixture spilling everywhere if the bowl is unsteady but more importantly, it reduces pressure on the wrists and joints when having to control the stability of the bowl whilst making a whisking, stirring or folding motion.