AnySharp.
Reimagining a kitchen bestseller for today's kitchens.
WMP's product design team reimagined AnySharp's next-generation MK2 sharpener, refining the original's simplicity with superior functionality and a fresh, modern aesthetic.
Sectors
Expertise
Solutions
Background.
A best-selling sharpener, facing new competition.
AnySharp needed to defend its position as a trusted, top-selling knife sharpener without losing what made the original so popular.
Many traditional sharpening tools, like steels and stones, require skill and practice, making them unsuitable for most consumers. The original AnySharp was unique and highly innovative at the time, letting anyone achieve a professional result, and it quickly became the #1 top-selling knife sharpener on Amazon. But with new competitors entering the market, AnySharp faced increasing pressure to innovate, and partnered with WMP to develop a next-generation sharpener with superior functionality and a fresh new aesthetic. The goal was to refine the product, making it even more user-friendly while minimising the risk of misuse and enhancing the overall sharpening experience.
The Solution.
A redesign built around safety, precision and a tidier kitchen.
Making safe, hands-free sharpening intuitive.
The new sharpener features a strong suction cup for secure attachment to smooth surfaces, enabling safe, hands-free use. Users simply place the knife in the top guide and draw it toward themselves to sharpen, while a front-facing actuation handle and logo, along with a gloss arrow on top, make proper orientation intuitive. The blade position and carefully sculpted top cap have been optimised so users can sharpen the entire length of the blade, heel to tip, without their fingers or the knife handle getting in the way.
Inherently intuitive.
The new sharpener features a strong suction cup for secure attachment to smooth surfaces, enabling safe, hands-free use. Users simply place the knife in the top guide and draw it toward themselves to sharpen. The front-facing actuation handle and logo, along with a gloss arrow on top, make proper orientation intuitive.
Sharpen from heel to tip.
The blade position and carefully sculpted top cap have been optimised to ensure the user can easily sharpen the entire length of the blade without their fingers or knife handle getting in the way
Honing a new direction.
The blade set, made from durable tungsten carbide, is easy to disassemble and replace. The integrated blade guide ensures the pre-set blades cut at 20 degrees to give a perfectly honed edge every time, whether on hardened steel knives or serrated blades.
Thoughtful cleaning.
The blade guide not only guarantees the perfect sharpening angle but also serves as a barrier to contain metal filings, preventing any mess. These filings are channelled through an opening at the bottom of the guide and collected in a compartment. The removable cap allows for easy and safe disposal of the fragments.
A must-have tool for any kitchen.
The original AnySharp sharpener was functional but lacked attention to user experience and aesthetics. To elevate the design, the team at WMP employed advanced 3D modelling techniques to refine key components like the CAM mechanism, ensuring it remained highly functional yet visually unobtrusive. Features such as handle clearance, guide height, and product diameter were meticulously balanced to maintain a compact form without compromising performance. With its compact and minimal design, the new sharpener not only looks great in the kitchen but is small enough to easily store in a drawer.
The impact.
A refined design, built on a decade of consumer trust.
The original AnySharp built its reputation as a top-selling knife sharpener on Amazon over many years, with the brand publicly endorsed by well-known food personalities including Pru Leith, Jamie Oliver and Ken Hom. The redesign carries that trust into a new generation, giving AnySharp a safer, more refined sharpener to defend its position as new competitors enter the market.
Let's work together
Let's partner to create brand, product, and experience solutions that move people and markets.
