Design Development
Existing Products
After doing competitive shopping, we realized that collapsible serves were definitely a hole in the market. Most multi-tiered serves either had fixed configurations or had to be disassembled by unscrewing several parts that could eventually be misplaced.
Stacking & Nesting Inspirations
I researched on different aspects of collapsibility - folding, cascading, retracting and so on. I explored these options and thought “stacking and nesting” would be the best approach. I stumbled upon this idea while looking at furniture and toys. What set this approach apart was that it did not require moving parts or hinges.
It also adds more value to the product by offering different set-ups to the customer. Its modularity gives different options on how the food will be presented and served. Nesting on the other hand, allows to easily store these sizable items when not in use.
Sketches
I was able to communicate the idea to the team through sketches and it seemed very straightforward. However, it was only upon mocking up the designs in the actual dimensions that I realized how much more complicated it was.