Have you ever looked at your hands and thought, "Ugh, why must I do everything myself?" Say no more—Cookie Dunker is here to eliminate the exhausting and wildly inefficient task of dunking cookies by hand.

Who knew dunking a cookie into milk could be so complicated? Cookie Dunker takes this simple, everyday act and turns it into a fully mechanized experience. We’re talking a scissor lift, linear actuator, and an IR-controlled remote shaped like a milk carton—because why just dunk when you can do it in style?

The Inspiration & The Passion

Inspired by Chindogu, the Japanese art of unuseless inventions, Cookie Dunker embodies the spirit of over-engineering everyday problems just for the fun of it. Chindogu thrives on making simple tasks hilariously convoluted—exactly what this project embraces.

Modern technology is all about automation, convenience, and reducing human effort—but what if we just... took that too far? Cookie Dunker exists at the delightful intersection of usability, absurdity, and satire. It asks:

• How can we overcomplicate the simplest tasks?
• Is design still “good” if it’s hilariously impractical?
• Would a robot judge me for using my hands like a caveman?

By taking a one-second human action and turning it into a multi-step mechanical process, this project pokes fun at the way we sometimes build solutions for problems we don’t actually have.

Why It Matters

Beyond being objectively hilarious, Cookie Dunker is a thought-provoking take on design, automation, and interactivity. It questions the role of technology—is innovation always about efficiency, or can it be about joy and play? It also showcases skills in mechanical design, interactive prototyping, and user-driven automation, making it a perfect case study in creative technology and experimental product design.

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How It Works

At its core, Cookie Dunker is a masterclass in unnecessary problem-solving. Instead of picking up a cookie and dipping it into milk, this ridiculously over-engineered contraption lets you turn a knob on a remote (disguised as a milk carton, obviously) to activate an IR sensor that triggers a 3D-printed scissor lift and a linear actuator—gently (but dramatically) raising a glass of milk to the cookie. Efficiency? Who needs it!

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• Step 1: Pick up your remote control, shaped like a milk carton (because obviously).
• Step 2: Turn the knob, which activates an IR sensor inside.
• Step 3: The sensor triggers a 3D-printed scissor lift, which powers a linear actuator to slowly, dramatically, elegantly raise a glass of milk to the waiting cookie.
• Step 4: Witness the glorious dunking spectacle. Applaud your own genius.

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Problem:

How can a simple action like dunking a cookie be turned into an over-engineered, unnecessarily complex, and delightful experience?

Inspired by the idea of solving a problem with another problem, Cookie Dunker is an absurdist machine designed to remove the hassle of manually dunking cookies into milk—but in the most convoluted way possible. Instead of just using your hands, this device introduces a remote-controlled lifting system, because why not?

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Process:

• Concept & Inspiration:
  • Inspired by overly complicated Rube Goldberg-style machines, the project explores the idea of playful problem-solving through over-engineering.
  • The goal was to turn a mundane activity into an entertaining, interactive experience.
• Mechanical & Interaction Design:
  • Designed a remote control shaped like a milk carton, featuring an IR sensor for input.
  • Created a mechanical scissor lift system that raises the milk cup when activated.
  • Developed a cookie holder mechanism to ensure precise dunking motion.
• Prototyping & Fabrication:
  • Used 3D printing, laser cutting, and electronic components to bring the absurd concept to life.
  • Integrated a linear actuator for smooth lifting motion.
  • Iterated on multiple prototypes to ensure the dunking mechanism worked flawlessly.
• Electronics & Programming:
  • Implemented an IR sensor-based remote control to trigger the dunking process.
  • Programmed precise movement timing to avoid splashing while ensuring a satisfying dunk.

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Solution:

Cookie Dunker is a humorous, unnecessarily complex interactive device that transforms a simple everyday action into a delightful, absurdist performance. Users control the milk lift via a milk carton-shaped remote, creating an experience that is as ridiculous as it is satisfying.

Outcome:

• Successfully exhibited as an interactive, conversation-starting installation.
• Received enthusiastic responses for its absurd yet functional execution.
• Showcased the idea of over-engineering for playfulness, proving that not all design has to be practical—it can also be fun and thought-provoking.

Sometimes, the best designs aren’t about solving problems efficiently, but rather about reimagining simple interactions in unexpected ways. Cookie Dunker is a playful critique of automation culture, celebrating unnecessary complexity for the sake of joy.

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