OXO Tot Snack Cup

Form, function, and family-centered design

OXO

  • Client
    OXO
  • Industry
    Consumer Goods
  • Services
    Industrial Design, Customer Research, Prototyping
  • Client
    OXO

    Industry
    Consumer Goods
  • Services
    Industrial Design, Customer Research, Prototyping

The Opportunity

A fresh take on snacking: The reimagined tot snack cup

OXO partnered with Smart Design to help modernize its tot snack cup, a spill-resistant snack container for toddlers. With their original product no longer in production, there was an opportunity for a new solution that better aligned with today’s user needs and market demands.

The goal was to offer greater convenience for parents and independence for toddlers – something products in the market weren’t delivering on. Through competitor audits and hands-on research, design decisions included softer, more flexible flaps that make it easier for children to access their snacks independently and a transparent body so parents can easily see when it’s time for a refill. Additionally, the updated design now fits seamlessly into standard cupholders in car seats and strollers, making it an ideal companion for families on the go. Other insights also emerged through hands-on testing.

Our process

Tiny testers, big insights

With a fast turnaround timeline, we employed a focused, user-driven research approach. Our team conducted hands-on testing with toddlers, allowing for real-world observations of how kids interacted with snack cups. This research provided valuable insights into how children actually held, used, and manipulated the cup.

Competitive audit


We analyzed existing products to identify best practices and areas for differentiation.

Competitive audit


We analyzed existing products to identify best practices and areas for differentiation.

Toddler testing

User-testing played a critical role in the development process, enabling us to refine each element.

Key takeaways

Defining key elements such as the handle placement, lid material, and overall proportions brought the final product to life.

Key takeaways

Defining key elements such as the handle placement, lid material, and overall proportions brought the final product to life.

Handle with care (and innovation)

Our team of designers and engineers developed several directions that addressed the major pain points of the original cup, testing each one through prototyping and user validation. One of the biggest learnings was handle configuration. The team recognized that by rotating the handle and positioning its architecture toward the top of the cup, they could significantly improve its fit within cupholders while maintaining an ergonomic grip for small hands.

Additionally, we experimented with different materials for the lid, initially considering a hard plastic top before ultimately opting for a fully silicone cover. This decision was driven by both usability and durability—silicone provided a softer, more flexible solution that was easier for children to use while also being more resilient to drops and wear. The team refined the design to balance aesthetics, function, and manufacturability. The lid enhances durability, ease of use, and child-friendly functionality.

The impact

An improved snack cup for modern families

With improved portability and thoughtful details, the newly design snack up addresses real parenting challenges while setting a new standard for modern, on-the-go lifestyles.

With an updated aesthetic that aligns with OXO’s latest CMF (Color, Material, Finish) direction, it was a perfect addition to their tot line. By enhancing usability and modernizing the design, we created a product that better meets the needs of today’s parents and children, offering both style and functionality.

Let’s design a smarter world together