Sometimes, daily activities are difficult. We may find ourselves trying to cope with one hand instead of two if we damage an arm, or struggling to get around the shops with a double buggy and two babies. Some of us have permanent disabilities, and have to seek solutions to daily actions and routines, like opening a tin, gripping a pencil, or crossing a busy road. In our lives, most of us will experience temporary disabilities.

Good Grip kitchen tools were created by an American designer Sam Farber. He observed the difficulty his wife had in peeling potatoes because her hands (and therefore her ability to grip) were affected by arthritis. (Arthritis is a disabling condition and affects many people, particularly as they get older. It impacts on actions that depend on the joints of the body working well, and affects the ability to grip and hold things, or to walk.) Farber was instrumental in developing the concept of universal, or inclusive design, that is, the design of products that prioritise ease of use and comfort for all ages and abilities.

Good Grip kitchen tools cover a whole range of kitchen activities, from potato peeling to potato mashing, from jar opening to fish slicing. The tools all follow the principles of ergonomic design, that is the study of work and working conditions in relation to the human body, so that the right tool can fit the right person for the right job. In general, the handles are large enough to be gripped by very stiff or swollen hands without any strain. The base of the handle is oval shaped to prevent it turning in the hand when in use. The hole in the handle is oversized, for ease of hanging up. The soft fins bend under slight pressure thus conforming to everyone's individual grip.

The Good Grips range is effective for both able bodied and disabled people. The tools are visually attractive and made in a contemporary style that appeals to the broadest market.

Each of these kitchen tools has a specific purpose but they are all designed on the same basic principles. Each has a broad black handle made out of Santoprene, a rubber material that does not get slippery when wet. At the base of each handle is a series of fins that can be pressed by gripping with your fingers. The fins are placed at exactly the position that your fingers would be in when they grip the tool. At the top of each handle is a hole to enable the tool to be hung up when not in use.

The tools:

The potato masher has a plastic stirrup shaped arm ending in a series of ridges that will slice through boiled potatoes. The flat base to the ridges ensures they are mashed as well sliced. The gaps between the ridges are wide enough to ensure ease of cleaning.

The potato peeler has a semi-circular support that holds a bevelled metal slicer that swivels slightly in order to accommodate different sizes and shapes of potato. It has a sharp blade to slice the skin off the potato.

The jar opener has a fan-shaped base that is compatible with a variety of standard jar lids. The base is placed over the lid so that the sides of the lid are gripped by two edges, one serrated and one straight. This grip enables the user to turn the lid on the jar.