COOKIES

Justin Barry
Sep 5, 2018 · 5 min read

Idea Generation:

First I listed the constraints for the design challenge. Then I listed the five different ways I could be creative in designing a novel cookie: flavor, form, texture, cooking process and presentation. I decided to aim to change 2–3 of these features while maintaining the rest similar to a conventional cookie. It must be creative but still maintain some normal cookie features. This led me to think about what a cookie usually is: semi-flat polygons, sweet, doughy base with extra sweetness somewhere else, etc.

Using these thoughts I brainstormed ten concepts, each with sketch and title along with any necessary notes…

From these ten concepts, I chose two (based on feasibility and novelty) to take forward to the next step.

Idea 1 Test

Puzzle Cookie: Based on a wooden puzzle cube geometry, pieces molded out of chocolate. Possible to embed flavors into each piece so that once the puzzle is solved piece flavors complement one another. Creative by form and presentation, conventional in flavor and texture.

I first made each of the puzzle pieces out of scrap wood from the wood-shop then created a mold by vacuum-forming the pieces with scrap acrylic.

Getting the wooden pieces out of the mold was not easy, especially the pieces that were two units tall. and the mold became a bit deformed. I then attempted to melt some chocolate chips in the microwave, it got crusty and didn’t melt properly. I then tried to use a double boiler to melt, but the chocolate heated but failed to liquefy. Due to this melting issue, the imperfect mold and doubts about releasing the chocolate from the mold, I decided that this concept would not go forward.

Idea 2 Test

Tide Pods: With recent popularity of eating toxic Tide Pods in millennial meme culture, I decided to give the people what they want and make an edible version of the dissolving detergent sachets. Rice paper exterior, Jello and pudding filling. Creative in form and texture, somewhat conventional in flavor and presentation.

I gathered supplies: rice papers, red strawberry Jello, lime green Jello and vanilla pudding. I set the Jellos and pudding in different containers and refrigerated.

After the gelatin had gelled, I softened the rice papers and cut them into 11x11 cm. quadrants. Then I experimented with different proportions, arrangements, shapes and amount of the three fillings. I also experimented with multiple folding methods. The combination of these elements that best mimicked the look and feel of a tide pod were; green Jello base with a crescent shape of pudding and red Jello atop, wrapped in rice paper with each of the corners pulled back and twisted in the back to seal. The result

Real Tide Pod (left) and one of my stronger first attempts (right)

The results of this test proved the concept well enough to proceed to the final iteration. Problems included getting the rice paper to adhere to itself and seal, also getting the gelatin forms to appear as clean and uniform as an actual pod. For the final batch I plan to use additional gelatin in the Jello to make it firmer. I also plan to use different molds and may experiment with injecting the pudding. For the sealing, I plan to use slightly larger sheets of rice paper so that I can twist the back harder and letting the pods sit for a while might let the papers adhere better.

Iteration

My iteration steps focused on improving the appearance and feel of the pods. I chose to use slightly larger squares of rice paper for the pods so that once wrapped the seal stays secure. I chose to increase the firmness of the Jello and pudding so the cookie would be more stable and I would have more control of the component shapes. I also chose to use my ice trays as molds because they have a rectangular shape with rounded edges similar to actual Tide pods. I also chose to use green and blue jello and white pudding to better match the colors of a tide pod.

Final Idea & Recipe

My final idea is to create a cookie that has the look and the feel of a Tide Pod using rice papers and various gelatinous fillings. This concept is creative because of its unusual appearance, cultural significance and unique gummy texture.

1: 3 oz. package blue Jello

1: 3 oz. package green Jello

1: 3 oz. package white chocolate pudding

3: 0.25 oz. package Knox gelatin

3: 1.25 cups of boiling water

1 cup cold milk

Mix each Jello packet with a gelatin packet and 1.25 cups boiling water. Pour each mixture into an ice tray or other appropriate mold and refrigerate till firm. Mix another 1.25 cups of boiling water with the last package of gelatin, let sit for 30 minutes at room temperature, then mix with pudding mix and milk. Whisk mixture for two minutes then pour into ice tray and refrigerate till firm.

After gelatinous things have set, place rice paper in warm water for 5 seconds (or till soft) then cut into ~15x15 cm. square. Cut crescent shapes of both pudding and blue jello and arrange in a ‘ying yang’ pattern in the center of the rice paper. Then cut a square shape of green jello that is slightly larger than the area covered by the crescents and place atop the crescents. Bring each corner of the rice paper toward the center and twist until the pod forms a firm spherical shape. Cut away any excess rice paper and let air dry with the twist up.

TIMELINE:

9/5/18 -

idea generation

9/6/18 -

idea generation

9/7/18 -

idea generation, choose best two concepts

9/8/18 -

refine ideas, collect ingredients

9/9/18 -

test idea 1, start writing blog post

9/10/18 -

test idea 2, finishing writing about idea generation portion in blog post

9/11/18 -

choose final concept and refine, continue writing in blog post

9/12/18 -

bake final concept, finish blog post

9/13/18 -

present my beautiful cookies

Justin Barry

Written by

put the lime in the coconut

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade