kitchen – ProxThink River

IKEA has ice trays for making ice in unusual shapes. The photos below show one of the ice trays that makes long thin ice cubes. But in this case, they should be called not “cubes” but ice sticks I guess. Anyway, when I saw them, I thought they were cool objects, and since I wasn’t sure what they were at first, I started wondering what they might be. This is one side, which you would fill with water to make ice sticks.

This is the other side. It’s the bottom in relation to the water-filling side, but in some of the ways I’ve used these objects, I’ve come to think of the side shown below as the top! I may add more photos/video later to show some of the ways I’ve repurposed these ice trays, but I describe them in the mind map farther down this page.

The mind map below explores this situation. It describes some ways to repurpose these ice trays, and shows how some proximity thinking was used. Click the image below to open it full-size. Once open, you can zoom it even larger.

NOTE — THE REST OF THIS PAGE IS BASICALLY JUST FOR SEARCH ENGINES.
Since search engines can’t index the text in an image, I’m including the text from the graphic below. However, I’d recommend only looking at the graphic, as it will make a lot more sense. Also, WordPress is adding some blank lines in the outline below, and I can’t fix it. So please imagine there are no blank lines!

• A proximity thinking example, including a few basic definitions. To learn more, visit proxthink.com.
• Situation – A “situation” is whatever you are dealing with or considering.
• Element – Loosely, an “element” can be anything. Any person, place, thing, idea, feeling, time, group, relationship, situation, proximity, etc.
• Proximity – The “proximity” consists of elements related or potentially related to a situation, in physical, mental and other ways.

SITUATION
Repurposing an IKEA Ice Tray
—
Elements in the proximity
of this situation.
- It’s a cool, modern,
  sleek object.
  - Both sides are usable
    and look good.
- Cheap ($0.99),
  durable and
  rinse-to-clean.
- It doesn’t really
  look like an ice tray!
- It has gooves and slots.
- What uses do the shapes of
  the ice tray suggest?
  - Business cards stand.
  - Postcard stand.
  - Place for pens or things that
    might roll off the table.
- What things in your life
  might go with this object?
  - Becomes place for
    keys, wallet,
    chapstick, coins, etc.
  - Becomes a stand for your mobile phone
    at night. (Can flip ice tray either way.)
- What other objects can it
  be combined with?
  - Combine with stainless utensil holder ($3-$6 at
    IKEA) to make a little table with storage inside.
  - Combine ice tray with metal fence pole
    tops or other items to make a sculpture!
  - Use ice tray as base for upside down pencil
    holder, which then becomes a stand for my clock.
- How can you repurpose
  IKEA ice trays?
  - And what proximity
    thinking did you do?
- How was proximity
  thinking used here?
  - ProxPatterns
    - ProxAwareness
      - Becoming aware of the different characteristics of the ice tray,
        and elements in your life it might go with or combine with.
    - Relate a Variety
      - Being open to unusual combinations, and a wide of variety of different combinations.
    - Allow Uncertainty
      - Just trying things and seeing what happens, then adjusting or adapting as needed.
    - Honor Integrity
      - Honoring the shapes and characteristics of the ice tray. Respecting what they can do and cannot do.
    - Introduce Related
      - Introducing other objects into the proximity which are related in some way.

• Questions? Contact us via proxthink.com.
• Created by David Loughry.
• As you find this rewarding, please proxri with the proximity in mind via proxthink.com.

My French press coffee maker, by Bodum, could use some proximity thinking. More specifically, it has no fill level marks to help me add water to the same place every time, as you can see from the picture.

UPDATE: I made a short video intro to this post! You can watch it here.

The mind map below should be pretty self-explanatory. Click the image below to open it full-size. Once open, you can zoom it even larger.

SITUATION
No fill level marks on my
French press coffee maker.
—
Elements in the proximity of
this situation.
- Different people have different
  preferences for how much coffee to
  make. And different size cups too.
- Glass pot with instructions on
  side, but no fill level marks.
  - So we know they can
    paint on glass!
- The need to consistently make a good
  cup of coffee just the way you like it.
  - Once you figure out how much water and
    how many ground coffee scoops you
    like, it should be easy to repeat that.
- With French presses, the coffee
  grounds stay in the pot and absorb
  some water, so it affects fill levels.
  - So a strong cup with more coffee
    grounds might take more water.
- International sales
  means it’s better to avoid
  choosing ounces or liters.
  - Yet fill lines need some unique
    marks to tell them apart.
    - However numbers might be a poor
      choice since people might think they
      relate to liters or ounces.
- Possible solution that relates to
  the elements in this proximity.
  - Many fill lines painted up the side,
    every quarter inch (6 mm) or so.
    - Mark each line with letters
      and/or a symbol or shape.
      - Suggest that the first time you make coffee, get a rough idea of the best fill line as
        follows: Fill your cup(s) with cold water and pour into the French press, so you can
        note which fill line is closest. Then add a couple lines for the coffee grounds.
        
        After you make a few pots of coffee and make minor adjustments,
        you’ll know how many ground coffee scoops you like, and which
        fill line works best. Then you can do it the same every time.
- How was proximity
  thinking used here?
  - The Core Idea
    - The ProxThink Core Idea is: “In a situation, change elements, relationships
      and the proximity to better relate to each other.” The blue crosslink lines
      above show some of the elements these solutions relate to better.
  - ProxPatterns
    - Relate a Variety
      - Many closely-spaced fill lines up the side relates to a
        wider variety of people, preferences and cup sizes.
    - Honor Integrity
      - Avoiding markings related to ounces, liters or numbers honors the
        need for international sales and the need to avoid confusion.
    - Create Links
      - Many closely-spaced fill lines marked with letters and/or symbols and shapes creates
        a link between the fill line that works best for you and the next time you make coffee.
    - Avoid Forcing
      - We avoided forcing people to use ounces, if they’re used to liters, and vice versa. And
        by using many fill lines, we avoided forcing the lines to relate to fixed cup sizes.
    - ProxAwareness
      - To become more aware of elements in the proximity of this situation.

• Questions? Contact us via proxthink.com.
• Created by David Loughry.
• As you find this rewarding, please proxri with the proximity in mind via proxthink.com.

ProxThink River

— the proxthink.com blog

Tag Archives: kitchen

My Bodum French Press Could Use Some Proximity Thinking