The Intuitive Process of Tortilla Making
In the process of making a meal, fixing a car, or painting a canvas, tools allow us to create a more efficient process. As we save time and increase the accuracy of the work we are doing by using these tools, it seems there is a trade-off. When does the tool take over? When do we lose touch completely with our tacit sense? When do we lose the ability to hear our intuition?
This Rolling pin measuring cup is a tool that allows the user to lean into the intuitive aspect of the flour tortilla preparation process.
Tacit /ˈtasət/ adj. understood or implied without being stated
Tacit knowledge is gained through living experience
The Backstory/heart of the design/inspiration
Growing up, tortillas were a staple in my home. Early mornings with my extended family, I would wake up to my grandparents lightly chattering as they threw together a batch of warm fluffy flour tortillas. She seldom used utensils as she through in a pinch of this and a handful of that. For her, this was a purely intuitive process.
My mother one day decided she wanted the recipe and after watching my grandmother intently, was able to put ‘cups’ and ‘Tablespoons’ into a seemingly messy process. Although when I was younger I learned using this recipe, I wanted to know it all by heart like my grandmother. It made me feel closer to what I was making and more connected to myself. The design of this utensil embraces the intuition that is at the heart of this fluid process and allows the user to experience the process of tortilla-making as intuitively as possible.
Key Implications
A tool that allows the preparer to connect with their intuition, to not be restricted by the tools they are using
Cultural identity through a symbol of the Mexican/USA border
Tortilla-making Process
Through an analysis of the tortilla-making process, I gathered all the tools used by my mother in her more quantifiable version of the tortilla-making process
measuring cups
rolling pin
mixing spoon
mixing bowl
pot to heat water
skillet or comal
While most of these tools were essectial, some may
After documenting the tools needed to make these flour tortillas, I began to explore how I would improve and change each one. I settled on a rolling pin redesign as this felt to be the most unique tool to the tortilla-making process
As I explored rolling pin designs, I began exploring how a consolidation of tools could improve the intuitive aspects of making tortillas. This led to an in-depth exploration of combining a rolling pin with some sort of measuring device.
I wanted to ensure the measuring aspect of the rolling pin was not too explicit to allow the cook to use their intuition when making the tortillas.
Fabrication Process
The calcs in this photo are finding the height that the rolling pin will need to be for its volume to measure 1 cup (8oz) of volume.
Below is a description and illustration of the manufacturing process. The largest challenge with this was finding a way to make the rolling pin hollow. I wanted to use the lathe to make it round and smooth the edges but the lathe requires two points at either end of the pin to hold it in place while it is being turned. This means that I needed both ends to be solid during the turning process. Hollowing out one end on the lathe was not an option either because I did not have a tool long enough. Additionally, hollowing out something of this length on the lath it would be incredibly dangerous and likely to cause it to break. As a result of this, I decided to drill out multiple pieces of wood and then glue them together with a cap on either end so I could turn my hollow chunk of wood.
After removing the rolling pin from the lathe, I cut the excess material of the end to expose its hollow insides and transform it into a measuring cup.
The Rolling Pin in Use
draw/write on first pic
Mixing by hand is another aspect of the preparation process that allows the cook to really feel the consistency of the dough as it forms. Without thinking, it is clear whether to add flour or water, and whether to continue kneading or not.
