Design with AI

As a lifelong pickle lover, I have always wondered why no one has designed a spoon stand conveniently fixable to commercially available pickle bottles.

Today, I asked Perplexity Pro (free courtesy Airtel for one year) to design such a spoon stand. It took all of 30 seconds to come up with this! 

Design Proposal: Spoon Stand for Pickle Bottle

Design Objectives

• Convenience: The spoon should always be easily accessible.

• Cleanliness: Prevent mess and contamination.

• Compatibility: The stand should work with common pickle bottle shapes and sizes.

• Stability: Securely attached to the bottle without risk of tipping.

Design Features

1. Clip-On Spoon Stand

• Material: Food-grade plastic or stainless steel for easy cleaning and durability.

• Mechanism: Spring or snap-fit clip that clamps around the neck or rim of the pickle bottle.

• Shape: U-shaped cradle—open at the top for easy placement and removal of the spoon.

• Rest Platform: Small drip tray below the cradle to catch drips and keep surfaces clean.

2. Lid-Integrated Holder

• Lid Replacement: Replace the existing bottle lid with a custom lid featuring a side slot or tube.

• Slot/Tube: A vertical channel or tube molded into the lid to insert the spoon’s handle, keeping the spoon suspended above the pickles inside the jar.

3. Adjustable Strap Holder

• Attachment: Silicone (flexible) strap that can be tightened around bottles of varying diameters.

• Spoon Pocket: Molded holder or pocket attached to the strap, positioned for easy access.

Example: Clip-On Spoon Stand Design

Feature	Description
Attachment Method	Snap-fit or spring clip for neck/rim of bottle
Spoon Accommodation	U-shaped cradle for spoon bowl with drip tray
Materials	Food-grade plastic or stainless steel
Suitability	Fits standard pickle bottles (plastic/glass)
Maintenance	Stand is detachable for washing

Additional Tips

• The spoon holder should be detachable and dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.

• The design can include a small notch or ridge to prevent the spoon from sliding off accidentally.

• For commercial pickle jars, a universal adjustable version may maximize compatibility.

Inspiration from Market Products

• Commercial pickle jars often come with a standalone spoon or as part of a set with a wooden or ceramic tray, but rarely a device that attaches directly to the jar neck or lid. 

• DIY solutions frequently repurpose plastic bottles or containers to create utensil stands but don’t include secure bottle-fixing features. 

This stand provides an organized, mess-free solution for daily pickle serving and can be produced with a simple, cost-effective mechanism. 

Saba Saba - my first flight

Today is 49 years since my first official trip happened on 7th July 1976. Tanzania celebrates its National Day as Saba Saba - 7th of July. As the Asst. Export Manager, I was deputed by ETTDC to take part in the Indian Pavilion organised by TDA and IIFT in the Saba Saba Fair at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

My very first flight was on the evening of 5th July 1976 from Delhi to Bombay by Air India. It was a flight from Zurich to Bombay via Delhi. I sat at the window (seat.. F), watching the evening setting sun and orange sky, a breathtaking view with monsoon clouds too. An export manager from HMT, who had just attended a Machine Tool Fair in Switzerland, sat next to me. 

At Bombay, I got a hotel layover at Centaur. I had dinner with Ganu (IIT IIM mate who had joined Grindwell Norton). I don't think I was a very good host.

My night flight from Bombay landed in Nairobi, and my connection to Dar es Salaam was delayed by many hours. Consequently, when I reached my hotel in Dar es Salaam with much luggage (I had some electronics display items for the Fair in my baggage), the chap at the hotel reception told me they had given away my reservation to someone else.

I remember sweating profusely as I lugged my bags along the central avenue of Dar es Salaam at 2AM in pitch darkness, looking for a hotel room. I found a largish lodge-like place, run by a Gujarati, who took mercy on me and allowed me to sleep in the lobby overnight. I remember climbing a huge staircase to reach the lobby area. 

I got a fine hotel the next day, being a part of the Indian delegation. Mr. Gupta, our team leader, took great pains to tell me that a career in exports and foreign travel was impossible for a Hindu vegetarian. He told me to start with chicken as it tastes good and is easy to adapt to. After all these years (I did over 40 years of overseas travel), I am glad I did not listen to him then. I have eaten eggs a few times, which I regret.

I had colleagues from HMT, Kirloskar, NGEF, and Mahindra as my teammates. We had a great experience. The Fair was set up in a beautiful open ground. I had an HMV gramophone player as an exhibit. I had taken Veena (Sri Narayana Menon) and Bharatanatyam (Yamini Krishnamurthy) LPs. The Africans danced in glee, listening to the mridangam beats!

The newspapers came out in the evenings. One evening, a front-page photo showed me with Julius Nyerere, President of Tanzania, and the President of Mozambique, who had visited the India pavilion. I was seen explaining how India is developing small-scale industries in electronics.

I am right now unable to locate photos from my first trip. This photo was taken at the Zanzibar beach in 1978.