Rahul Agarwal developed Polygons around an unusual idea for a kitchen utensil: a measuring spoon that could fold flat when not in use. The Indian industrial designer drew inspiration from origami, using a series of creases to turn a thin sheet into a spoon with several measuring capacities. By changing where the user pinched the material, the same spoon could hold different amounts of an ingredient.
Agarwal’s design replaced the usual collection of rigid measuring spoons with a pair of flexible utensils. The original concept allowed each spoon to form several different sizes while lying almost completely flat between uses. The shape also made it possible to spread ingredients such as peanut butter and wipe sticky mixtures off the spoon more easily. Small magnets allowed the utensils to attach to a refrigerator for storage.
Turning the concept into a business required more than designing the spoon. Agarwal had limited money to bring the product to market and spent considerable time preparing a crowdfunding campaign. He eventually partnered with Command Partners, a North Carolina marketing agency that worked with Kickstarter projects. The agency’s founder, Roy Morejon, agreed to take the project on a commission-only basis because Agarwal could not afford the usual upfront costs. Over roughly two years, they worked on the product’s branding, promotional video, marketing and outreach to potential customers.
Polygons launched on Kickstarter in October 2016 with a funding goal of $10,000. The response far exceeded Agarwal’s expectations. The campaign raised $100,000 in its first 24 hours and finished 40 days later with $1,022,120 from 36,863 backers. The small kitchen utensil had attracted customers around the world before commercial production was underway.
The scale of the campaign also created a demanding manufacturing job. Agarwal had to turn the folding design into a product that could be made in large quantities while keeping its measuring accuracy and flexible construction. Production and fulfillment took much longer than originally planned. Deliveries to Kickstarter backers began in December 2019, more than three years after the campaign ended.
The business encountered further supply-chain problems during the COVID pandemic. Shipping to backers resumed in March 2022, and Agarwal began using profits from direct sales to help fund outstanding Kickstarter orders. Polygons increased its manufacturing and shipping capacity as the business worked through those commitments.
Agarwal also refined the measuring spoons for commercial sale. The finished set uses two spoons with six measuring sizes, covering teaspoons and tablespoons. The design combines flexible food-safe materials with embedded magnets and is sold in several colors. Polygons reached customers through its own online store and later gained wider exposure through social media, including TikTok.
The business eventually expanded beyond the measuring spoons to offer other folding products. Its online store added DiFOLD’s collapsible water bottle and cup, products that use origami-inspired construction to reduce the space they occupy when not in use. The measuring spoons also received international design recognition, including a European Product Design Award in 2025 and a Red Dot Design Award in 2026.
