©2025 Lucy Hui and respective copyright holders.
Ember Bento
Ember Bento is a lunchbox and mini induction cooktop in one for people who have little space to cook. Tailored for on-the-go and portability, it cooks and reheats easy homemade meals.
*No affiliation with the Ember brand.
Status
Concept 2023
Under the guidance of Jeffrey Jones
My Role
Industrial Design
Problem
Most college students and young professionals cook simple, go-to meals — boiling pasta, frying eggs, or stir-frying veggies. Steamer lunchboxes cannot handle these basic tasks. Electric cookers are more versatile, but the welded parts and non-sealing lid make them impractical to clean and carry food on-the-go.
Process
Ember + Lunch
What if you could enjoy a hot, healthy lunch anytime, anywhere?
The control bar is slanted at a slight angle so that the interface is visible from above while cooking. To get started, the user selects the temperature on the bar. They can then double-tap for a more precise temperature.
To mitigate fire hazards, users can also set how long they want to cook their ingredients, after which the cooker shuts off automatically. The top of the lid also includes a built-in strainer for straining foods such as pasta, noodles, and rice.
To make cooking and eating a seamless experience, the silicone bottom disperses heat so that the user can grab the bowl directly from the cooker without being burned.
When off the cooker and turned on, the lunchbox goes into REHEAT mode to warm the meal or leftovers. The silicone flap of the strainer can be peeled back to allow steam to escape while reheating.