A small design change solves the biggest problem with water buckets

Some everyday objects are so familiar we barely notice their flaws. The humble water bucket, that truncated cone shape we’ve all used countless times, has remained virtually unchanged for generations. While functional in many ways, this classic design was created for a world where water came from pumps delivering straight downward streams. Today’s reality of sink faucets and modern plumbing exposes a fundamental flaw in this ancient tool that we’ve simply learned to live with, often without realizing there could be a better way.

You know the frustration: trying to fill a bucket under a kitchen or bathroom faucet means awkwardly tilting it, watching water splash over the sides, and ultimately settling for a partially filled container. This isn’t just annoying, it’s inefficient and wasteful. The standard bucket design forces an impossible choice between filling it completely (and making a mess) or keeping things tidy (but sacrificing capacity). It’s a small daily irritation we’ve collectively accepted, never questioning if there might be a simple solution hiding in plain sight.

Designer: Ming Sheng Shih (SHS Shih/Stone Shih)

The WATHIELD Gen II concept tackles this age-old problem with an elegantly simple modification. By raising one side of the bucket’s rim at an angle, the designers have created a spout-like section that allows the bucket to be tilted under a faucet without spilling. This asymmetrical lip means you can position the bucket at the perfect angle to catch water from modern fixtures while filling it nearly to capacity; no more compromise between fullness and cleanliness.

What makes this redesign particularly clever is how it maintains the bucket’s fundamental strengths while addressing its weakness. The basic truncated cone shape, which has proven its worth through centuries of use, remains intact. The bucket still stacks efficiently, holds a substantial volume, and can be manufactured using traditional methods and materials. Only the critical pain point has been modified, demonstrating thoughtful design that respects tradition while embracing improvement.

A second smart addition complements the angled lip: a groove at the bottom of the bucket opposite the raised section. This indentation creates a natural handhold for lifting and pouring, giving users better control when emptying a heavy, water-filled bucket. The groove’s position ensures your fingers stay clear of potentially dirty surfaces on the bucket’s bottom, adding both ergonomic comfort and hygiene benefits to the improved functionality.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the WATHIELD design is its immediate intuitiveness. Despite altering the symmetrical shape we’ve grown accustomed to, the bucket’s purpose and function remain instantly recognizable. Users instinctively understand how to position it under a faucet or lift it using the groove; no instruction manual needed. This seamless blend of innovation and familiarity demonstrates the hallmark of exceptional design: solving problems so naturally that users wonder why it wasn’t always this way.