ABOUT

Since the company’s inception in 2003, Joseph Joseph products have achieved incredible success. Their quirky designs and innovative solutions have seen their reputation grow hugely in recent years, so when Factorydesign were invited to contribute to their BarWise™ collection we were excited to rise to the challenge.

Joseph Joseph products stand out from other homeware brands for being eye-catching and different. When researching ideas to create a new bottle opener we focused on two main ideas – what are people trying to achieve, and how can we do it better. After producing several concept sketches, we and the Joseph Joseph team decided to focus on this idea: a compact opener which collects caps neatly in a tube, for easy disposal all at once when everyone is settled with their drink. As part of a collection of five “bar tools” the final design needed not only to be practical and easy to use, but simple to manufacture and brand also.

After testing several mechanisms and over a dozen prototypes, the final design was ready. With one swift movement the user removes the bottle cap, which then slides down be stored in the tube, and an epiglottis-esque flap prevents it from escaping back through the top. To prevent the bottom of the tube opening without user release, we developed a hinge mechanism cleverly installed inside the tube, without ruining the aesthetic with outside screws. The result: a sleek, simple and practical design with easy functionality.