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Banana Hanger

How might we keep bananas fresh?

Type

Product Design

Role

Prototyping · Fabrication

Tool

Fusion 360 · Carpentry

Concept

When I decided to gain some weight and began working out seriously, bananas became my go-to snack. Compact, healthy, and sweet. I always kept a hand of bananas in the kitchen, but they would go bad faster than I could eat, leaving the last few overly ripe and wasted.

It was pretty annoying. I learned that how we store bananas directly affects how quickly they brown. I came across scientific research showing hanging bananas slows down the ethylene gas that speeds up ripening. Hanging them also prevents bruising, which often happens when they rest on a countertop. The solution seemed simple: a banana hanger. But instead of buying one, I decided to craft my own custom banana hanger that works and looks cool, too.

Prototyping

I started by sketching different forms, focusing on shapes that balanced functionality and visual appeal. To test the design, I started prototyping with cardboard, experimenting with proportions and stability. Once the basic structure was finalized, I used a laser cutter to cut 5mm plywood pieces, which I stacked to make the base of the hanger.

Laser cutted 5mm plywood boards stacked with wood glue

First prototype

Manufacturing

I used Fusion 360 to plan all parts with precise measurements and create detailed blueprints. I printed the neck part of the hanger using the Ultimaker 3D printer. For the base, I switched from stacked 5mm plywood boards to a single solid piece of thick wood, cutting it with a band saw for improved stability. I then smoothed the edges and surfaces with a sanding machine. Once the components were ready, I painted the neck part and applied a light coat of wood oil to the base. I also made a support under the base and assembled all the parts together.