A good product design should not be limited to its original purpose.
When developing the SUKA Pipe, we explored how storage, dispensing and portability could be combined within a compact circular body.
The result was an internal rotating mechanism. By turning the central ball, users could control the position of the contents and combine storage with dispensing in one continuous action.
Once the SUKA structure had matured, we began asking a new question:
Could the same rotating storage and dispensing principle be used in a completely different product?
If we preserved its mechanical foundation while redesigning the internal space, exterior shape and opening method, could it become a simple and playful rotating candy dispenser?
That question marked the beginning of a new candy dispenser design.
Preserving the Rotating Candy Dispensing Mechanism
Traditional candy containers usually require users to open a lid and reach inside or pour the candy out. Although this works, it can easily release too much candy at once.
The rotating structure developed for SUKA offered a different approach. It allowed the candy dispensing process to become one continuous sequence:
1. Open the upper lid and fill the product with candy.
2. Rotate the central ball.
3. One or a small number of candies enter the ball.
4. Continue rotating to move the candy toward the outlet.
5. The candy drops from the designated opening.
Once the candy has been loaded, the user does not need to reopen the lid or reach into the storage compartment every time.
This mechanism preserves the mechanical interaction of the original SUKA while making the process of dispensing candy more engaging. Rotation is no longer simply a mechanical movement—it becomes part of the experience of receiving the candy.
However, preserving SUKA’s rotating principle did not mean that we could copy its structure without changes. Candy differs from tobacco in size, weight and movement, so the internal space and dispensing path had to be redesigned.
Removing the Middle Layer and Simplifying the Structure
SUKA uses a multi-layer structure, including a middle section for storing tobacco. This layer is an important part of the original product’s storage system.
A candy dispenser does not require a separate middle layer. We therefore removed it and allowed the candy to be stored directly within the space formed by the upper and lower shells.
The new rotating candy dispenser retains the basic shape and movement of SUKA’s central ball. However, because the product serves a different purpose, the airflow holes found on the original SUKA ball were removed.
The redesigned product consists of four main components:
l A small top cap that covers the toy inside the ball;
l The upper shell;
l A central rotating ball used to store the small toy and dispense candy;
l A lower shell with an internal circular guiding slope.
When assembled, the upper and lower shells form the candy storage compartment, while the rotating ball sits at the center. A small toy is placed inside the ball and secured by the top cap. The slope inside the lower shell controls and guides the movement of the candy.
Removing the middle layer reduces the number of components and prevents the internal space from being divided unnecessarily.
When the central ball is rotated, candy travels along the lower slope and enters the ball. Continued rotation then carries it to the designated dispensing position.
This change preserves SUKA’s most recognizable rotating interaction while removing the tobacco storage structure and airflow design that are no longer required.
Creating a Softer, More Rounded Candy Dispenser Design
SUKA has a distinctive UFO-inspired appearance that emphasizes portability, mechanical character and a futuristic style.
For the candy dispenser design, we retained this circular visual identity but adjusted the curves of the upper and lower shells.
Compared with SUKA, the candy dispenser has a fuller and more rounded body. When the shells are connected, they create a smoother, more continuous surface with fewer visible steps or sharp transitions.
These changes do more than visually separate the two products. They also improve the way the candy dispenser looks and feels:
l Rounded edges make it more comfortable to hold;
l Continuous curves create a more unified appearance;
l Its shape works well as a decorative or interactive desktop product;
l The softer form better reflects the playful character of candy;
l Smooth edges feel more comfortable during handling and rotation.
We did not abandon the UFO-inspired design language of the SUKA Pipe. Instead, we adapted it to create a friendlier product that better suits the new use.
Why the Lower Shell Needs a Guiding Slope
One of the most important challenges in the candy dispenser development process involved the lower shell.
The internal structure needed to prevent candy from falling directly through the central ball opening while still allowing it to roll smoothly into the ball during dispensing.
If the area around the opening used only a vertical wall, it could stop candy from falling directly through the center. However, it would also create an abrupt height difference.
When the ball was rotated, the candy would need to move over this vertical barrier before entering the ball. This interrupted movement path could cause the candy to stop beside the wall instead of rolling smoothly into position.
Rather than using a vertical barrier, we designed a continuous circular slope inside the lower shell. The slope gradually rises as it approaches the central opening.
When the product is stationary, the raised inner section prevents candy from falling directly through the center.
When the ball reaches the dispensing position, its opening connects with the storage area. The slope then becomes a smooth guiding path, allowing the candy to roll naturally into the ball under gravity.
The circular slope therefore performs two functions:
l When the ball is stationary, it prevents candy from falling through the central opening;
l When the ball is rotated, it guides candy smoothly into the ball.
Unlike a vertical wall, the continuous slope does not create an abrupt step. This reduces the possibility of candy stopping at the edge instead of entering the rotating ball.
Using a Three-Start Thread for Faster Opening
The internal slope was not the only part that required redesigning. We also changed the connection between the upper and lower shells.
SUKA requires a relatively high level of sealing to help contain odors. For that reason, its thread requires multiple turns. Although this improves sealing performance and connection stability, opening or closing the product takes longer.
The candy dispenser has different requirements.
Users may frequently open the upper shell to refill the candy. Requiring several full rotations each time would make the process unnecessarily slow and would not match the quick, playful experience of the product.
We therefore replaced the original multi-turn thread with a three-start thread.
This design uses three thread starting points positioned around the circumference. Once the upper and lower shells are aligned, they engage quickly and require only a small rotation to close.
The three-start thread provides several benefits:
l Faster opening and closing;
l Less rotation when refilling the candy;
l Easier alignment of the upper and lower shells;
l A stable connection after closing.
This change reflects the different priorities of the two products:
SUKA’s thread prioritizes sealing, while the candy dispenser’s thread prioritizes faster access and easier operation.
From SUKA Pipe Design to a New Candy Dispenser
Transforming the SUKA Pipe into a rotating candy dispenser required more than changing its intended use.
We preserved the original rotating storage and dispensing principle while making four important design changes:
l Removing the middle tobacco storage layer and the ball’s airflow holes;
l Creating a softer and more rounded exterior;
l Adding a circular guiding slope inside the lower shell;
l Replacing the multi-turn thread with a three-start thread.
These changes allowed the product to retain SUKA’s recognizable mechanical interaction while adapting its internal space, dispensing path, exterior shape and opening method to a completely new purpose.
Good product design is not about copying an existing structure unchanged. It is about understanding why the structure works and then adapting it to a new use.
SUKA and the rotating candy dispenser share the same design DNA, but their redesigned details create two completely different product experiences.
