Project: Cortante

"Cortante" is a kitchen knife specifically designed for filleting. For this project I upcycled a large knife blade and designed my own knife from it – ergonomically shaped to fit my hand. The final form was developed through numerous physical studies using modeling clay and rigid foam. During the prototyping process, I learned a lot about forms and ergonomics. Making this knife was a real challenge and took quite some time. From the first sketches to the final blade shape, countless details had to be worked out so the form wouldn't just look good, but actually feel right in the hand. The transition between blade and handle, as well as getting the balance between weight and handling just right, turned out to be particularly tricky and required several attempts before the knife felt coherent and intuitive to hold. Through this process I have learned an enormous amount about the craft itself: Careful handling of materials, a feel for the right techniques and the patience it takes to turn a rough blank into a precise, functional object. Every step – from prototyping with clay to surface finishing – showed me how closely craftsmanship, technical understanding and an eye for detail have to work together to achieve a result that's both functional and aesthetically convincing.