OXO Good Grips Peeler

The OXO Good Grips peeler is one of those small objects that quietly inhabits our daily lives. However, behind its common appearances, this particular peeler is an extraordinary object. It is very important for the history of design, and is part of the MoMA’s design collection in New York.

It has also been ranked 6th out of 100 by Fortune and the IIT Institute of Design among the most important projects in history of industrial design.

The OXO Good Grips line was designed by Smart Design in 1989 and has since entered thousands of homes, making life easier for many. According to Smart Design, this small kitchen tool introduced the concept of Universal Design to mass-market products, a significant concept that had not yet permeated the design of everyday objects.

The Good Grips line (which includes over twenty other kitchen tools besides the peeler) began in 1989 when businessman Sam Farber had an “aha” moment after seeing his wife, Betsey, struggle with a regular peeler. Sam’s insight was to make ordinary kitchen utensils easier for everyone to use, adding enjoyment to the cooking process.

Nearly 30 years later, that small business has grown into a global company, with Smart Design remaining a partner in the design and development of its products. OXO and Smart Design continue to collaborate to create products that adhere to a fundamental principle: simplifying everyday life.

In this video, part of Gary Hustwit’s documentary Objectified, the designers at Smart Design explain the thinking process behind the design of the OXO Good Grips peeler.