Kitchen cleaning tools with characters
86% young adults have negative feelings of cleaning after meals
Market Research
Many existing “playful” kitchen tools are designed for cooking or storage, not cleaning. Cleaning tools often compromise on usability for fun. There is a clear gap in the market: tools that are both functional and delightful. Most young adults want cleaning to feel less like a chore, but the market rarely offers products that support that.
Primary Research
Striving to hit that sweet spot between adorable and effective, the universe first dispatched its curious “Exploration Squad” to learn users’ needs, then sent out nimble “Scout Teams” for brainstorming, dove into hands-on prototyping, and wrapped up with real-world user testing.
Through interviews and surveys, we uncovered the following:
- Cleaning is the most dreaded part of cooking — it’s tedious, time-consuming, and often done alone.
- After cooking, the mess feels overwhelming and ruins the satisfaction of the meal.
- Most people wish cleaning felt less like a chore and more like part of the process.
- Distractions like music or TV help, but don’t solve the problem.
- There's a strong desire for a cleaning companion — something that supports, not scolds.
Ideation
After brainstorming, the universe settled on a playful and whimsical design, infusing humor and charm into the very parts of cleanup people avoid most
Prototypes
The universe began by dreaming up playful kitchen companions—sending out food-themed organizers, character-shaped utensils, and handy storage helpers. But after gathering feedback from its Scout Team, one insight became clear: most people dread cleaning the messiest tasks—scrubbing greasy pots, rinsing slimy sponges, and scraping crusty utensils. That revelation changed everything. Rather than sticking to purely whimsical designs, the universe pivoted to confront those dreaded moments head-on, infusing humor and charm into the very parts of cleanup people avoid most.
User Testing
Shaped to nestle comfortably in your hand, Champ packs a punch—though testers noted swapping out its steel wool refill could be smoother.
Adorably wide-eyed, Chuck cradles your sponge with charm—though testers found pulling the sponge off could feel a bit wobbly.
Cody’s chunky little hooks were undeniably cute—though testers found their thickness made placing and lifting utensils awkward.
Playfully toothy, Casper was designed to clamp your towel with a smile—though testers warned its original sharp “teeth” pinched skin.
The Crew isn’t merely a lineup of adorable gadgets—they’re thoughtfully crafted to feel intuitive, comforting, and always ready to lend a hand . Each character was designed with a clear, practical purpose, yet they radiate distinct personalities that bring warmth to routine chores. Rather than feeling like cold, inanimate tools, they behave like little friends, turning every cleanup moment into a friendly interaction.
Final Design
This is just the beginning, their universe is already planning to send new characters to help us!