Vertical Plate Rack

Designing the rack

I began my design with a constraint in mind, I wanted to utilize wooden dowels. I knew that my dishes were going to be heavy and I've been wanting to incorporate new materials and hardware anyway. I also wanted to make sure I could adjust my design as my kitchen needs changed over time.

So I drew inspiration from some of my old photography and video gear and came up with the concept of a simple rail system with slide on dividers. I went to work sketching out some profile ideas for the dividers.

I found myself most drawn to the triangular concepts but the final form didn't take shape until I jumped into my CAD application. Within Autodesk Fusion, I started to really refine the profile. I also realized I would require feet for the final assembly, something I cannot believe I didn't consider prior.

I then finalized the sketches and created the final 3D forms. Before printing out my designs, I rendered the individual pieces as well as the final assembly to ensure I didn't overlook any glaring mistakes.

Printing out the design

I wanted to make sure I had my measurements correct so I first printed just one foot to test the fit. I'm glad I did this because I had to modify sizes a couple times before things felt right. Once I was satisfied, I printed out and assembled the final product. I did add a little colorway flair as well in the form of white end dividers.

I've had my vertical plate rack holding up my dishes for a few weeks now and I can safely say it has been a great addition to my kitchen. I think the design can play well in a few rooms around the house as well. I could see it being used to organize vinyl records, office files, or mail for example.

I hope to design a follow-up for organizing other kitchen items but for now I think my plates have found their new home. If you decide to print yourself one, I hope you enjoy it as well!