Stack of utensils crafted in India forms Cheese Maker by Studio Makkink & Bey
Milan 2014: Dutch designers Studio Makkink & Bey worked with craftspeople in India to create the elements in this totem, which all form part of the cheese making process (+ slideshow).
![The Cheesemaker by Studio Makkink & Bey](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/04/The-Cheesemaker-by-Studio-Makkink-and-Bey_dezeen_sq.jpg)
Exhibited at Ventura Lambrate in Milan during the city's design week, the Cheese Maker was designed by Studio Makkink & Bey to incorporate stacking sections created by different artisanal groups in Jaipur.
![The Cheesemaker by Studio Makkink & Bey](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/04/The-Cheesemaker-by-Studio-Makkink-and-Bey_dezeen_6.jpg)
The Cheese Maker was created for Imperfect Design, an organisation that pairs Dutch designers and craftspeople in developing countries to create lifestyle products.
![The Cheesemaker by Studio Makkink & Bey](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/04/The-Cheesemaker-by-Studio-Makkink-and-Bey_dezeen_4.jpg)
During the research phase for the project, Studio Makkink & Bey looked for common threads, processes and approaches to design in the Netherlands and India.
![The Cheesemaker by Studio Makkink & Bey](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/04/The-Cheesemaker-by-Studio-Makkink-and-Bey_dezeen_1.jpg)
Both countries have a long history of cheese making and of craftsmanship, so these ideas provided the basis of the design.
![The Cheesemaker by Studio Makkink & Bey](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/04/The-Cheesemaker-by-Studio-Makkink-and-Bey_dezeen_3.jpg)
The tower shape was influenced by the stacking of goods and housing that is commonly seen in both of the densely populated countries.
![The Cheesemaker by Studio Makkink & Bey](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/04/The-Cheesemaker-by-Studio-Makkink-and-Bey_dezeen_8.jpg)
The stack consists of a juicer, a milk jug, a spoon, a colander, a pan, a cutting board, a bowl, a cheesecloth and a press.
![The Cheesemaker by Studio Makkink & Bey](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/04/The-Cheesemaker-by-Studio-Makkink-and-Bey_dezeen_7.jpg)
Each element was made using a different material from a list including wood, blue pottery, metal, copper, cotton, soapstone and marble – all produced or shaped by Indian artisans.
![The Cheesemaker by Studio Makkink & Bey](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/04/The-Cheesemaker-by-Studio-Makkink-and-Bey_dezeen_10.jpg)
"Education, development and craft play a leading role in the work of Rianne Makkink and Jurgen Bey," said a statement from Imperfect Design. "These elements are also fully integrated in the process, the approach and the search for the right partners within this project."
![The Cheesemaker by Studio Makkink & Bey](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/04/The-Cheesemaker-by-Studio-Makkink-and-Bey_dezeen_9.jpg)
The collaboration with small local groups in Jaipur aims to encourage the continuation of craft skills and transfer of knowledge between generations.