Click photo to enlarge
Fisher and Paykel design engineers Ting Yang (left) and
Neil Robinson prepare a Chinese meal on products they have
designed. Photo by Linda Robertson.
Fisher and Paykel Appliances designers got a taste of
their own cooking yesterday when they took part in "Stir
Fryday" to celebrate the opening of the new design centre
kitchen.
Manager Michelle Read said the day was designed to be a bit
of fun but with a serious side.
There were about 100 product designers in the new Wall Street
Mall site, in central Dunedin.
As cooking products were designed, they would be tested by
the designers themselves.
"They get to make sure they know how to use their products."
Yesterday, teams of designers formed themselves into teams to
cook Chinese food in recognition that Chinese company Haier
was a significant shareholder in the company, she said.
Having the designers learn more about the different cooking
styles on the appliances they designed, made them think more
about their products.
Product market manager Stephen Bruce said there was a large
team of men designing cooking appliances and, for many, the
test kitchen was the only exposure they had to using the
products.
Some of the designers had proved to be budding chefs who were
"passionate about their cooking".
Some had started working on a food blog, cooking meals,
taking photos and posting them on the blog, he said.
The new kitchen would be used by all of the 150 staff, and
for cooking demonstrations.
Retailers would also be trained in the kitchen, Ms Read said.
"We will make them cook their own lunch so they get to
understand how to get the best out of the products."
