Snack Cup
Brand: Simka Rose (Parent Company: Lyra Collective)
Role: Lead Mechanical Design Engineer
Scope: End-to-end product development (concept ideation, design, prototyping, testing, DFM, supplier development, and validation testing)
Material: 100% FDA Food-Grade Silicone
Thoughtfully designed for tiny hands (and clean floors!)
Two handles and easy-grip ribs help your little one keep their snacks on hand. The unique 3-flap design keeps food from spilling out, and a removable lid keeps things safe on the go.
Problem Statement:
Building on the success of the Training Cup, Simka Rose sought to expand the product line with a companion snack cup. My task was straightforward: design a snack cup that carried the same design language as the Training Cup — the same silicone material, color palette, and ribbed texture — while delivering meaningful improvements in ergonomics and functionality over existing products on the market.
The Solution: A Companion Product with Exceptional Ergonomics
The Simka Rose Snack Cup is the result of of a rigorous design process to optimize user experience. The novel three-flap design was developed via extensive testing (more on this below) to optimize for spill resistance and entry force. The lid closure parameters were fine tuned — with special attention paid to component tolerances and interfacial fits — to produce a 100% silicone lid that snaps on tight for extra spill resistance during transport.
Like the Training Cup, the Snack Cup is compression molded in 100% FDA food-grade 40A silicone. There was a comprehensive effort with our manufacturer to validate that the design would be suitable for compression molding without manufacturing defects. Wall thicknesses, parting lines, draft angles, and overall tool design were refined in an iterative manner to arrive at a final design that was manufacturable and met all major requirements.
Prototyping & Testing
After benchmarking existing snack cups, I sought to design the optimal flap geometry — one that was balanced spill resistance with ease of access. I set up a design of experiments (DOE) that tested four flap variables — number of flaps, degree of curve, center hole size, and relief cuts — and prototyped these with silicone sheet and a mason jar. I conducted shake/spill testing and user access testing with young test subjects (they were paid in Cheerios). After analyzing the data, the obvious winner was the chosen three-flap design, which was unique to the market. The design was further tested and validated with a rubberlike 3D printed prototype.
Everyone needs a friend…
The Training Cup and Snack Cup are perfect companions. They share a cohesive design language and comprise a beautiful product family for Simka Rose.