re:Kitchen
sustainable appliance
type
Team Project
duration
February–May 2024
overview
In collaboration with Open Funk, a German-based home appliance brand, my partner and I worked on a project aimed at expanding the brand's product line in the near future. Our primary objective was to uphold Open Funk's sustainable principles and mission while propelling their vision forward. Thus, we presented re:Kitchen, a collection of sustainable kitchen appliances meticulously crafted for easy repairability.
role
Research, Ideation, CAD, Render
presented at
Brand Analysis
For people and the planet.
Open Funk is a sustainability-focused brand, pioneering at home self-repairability and reducing e-waste in home appliances.
“We are on a mission to change the way we make and fix home electronics”
Current Product
To reduce e-waste, Open Funk aims to increase product lifetime with its modular design while keeping the product’s lifecycle circular.
Their product, re:Mix, is a sustainably designed blender that starts their mission in the kitchen.
Genuine Repairability
Open Funk changes the way of making and fixing home electronics.
Their product can be disassembled completely, making it easier to repair. They also have a special lid for the blender that fits any type of mason jar, further reducing parts.
Complete Disassembly
Use Your Own Mason Jar
Easily Repairable
Next Step
How can we continue Open Funk's dedication to
genuine repairability while promoting sustainable lifestyles,
beginning with other appliances in the kitchen?
Product Expansion
In our research, we reviewed various kitchen appliances, and we landed on coffee capsule machines based on these factors.
Understanding Target Users
3 in 4
Germans drink coffee daily
82.8%
of German household own coffee machine
Sustainable Improvements
39,000
capsules are produced globally every minute
29,000
Gap in the Market
Keuring & Nespresso's
recycling initiative does not completely resolve the issue
are sent to the landfill
Understanding User
Interview Goal
We interviewed various users of coffee machines to gain more insights into the pros and cons of the current machine.
Main Takeaway
Users value convenience and taste and most of them are conscious about the waste they are creating with the capsule machine
"It's not the most sustainable option, but I still love how convenient it is."
R.C.
Student / Age 22 / Keurig user
"(Coffee capsules) It's just too much waste."
M.H.
Teacher / Age 48 / Jura user
Design Opportunity
How might we design a coffee capsule machine that fulfills all three user criteria of
convenience, taste, and genuine repairability?
Design Principles
We identified the design principles to understand the brand to the core and to see what the new vision of the brand's future approach should focus on.
Convenience
easy, adaptable, mindful
Visionary
fascinating, creative, engaging
Performance
reliable, efficient, determined
Thematic Direction
For the mid-phase presentation, we had two thematic directions and Bold Novelty was chosen as the final direction.
Bold Novelty
Convenience
Visionary
Performance
The product stands bold and striking, making a statement for celebration. Highlighting the joyous moments in life as you interact with your home
Assembled
Form
Tactile
Interaction
Lively
CMF
Exposed
Detail
Timeless Chic
Convenience
Visionary
Performance
Choosing sustainability should not compromise function. Sophistication speaks through the product both stylistically and the user’s commitment to sustainability.
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Balanced
Form
Gentle
Interaction
Classic
CMF
Precise
Detail
Ideation Highlight
Some highlights in our ideation include using your shared parts such as the panels, a handle interaction from an espresso machine, and the incorporation of mason jars.
re:Brew
Coffee machine built for repair
Repurposing Mason Jars
Following the integration of mason jars in the re:Mix blender, this coffee machine also utilizes the same idea for re:Brew where it is used as the water tank, to store water before it passes through the pump and boiler.
Mix to Brew
Easy Repairability
The machine is assembled through easily identifiable parts, where parts most prone to damage, the pump and the boiler, are all encased in one body. This simplifies the user's interaction with the product both during and postuse in disassembly and repair.
Simplified Design
7 capsules
one for each day
Our innovation prioritizes genuine repairability and enhances the immersive experience of reusable coffee capsules to cut down on waste from single-use ones.
Taking inspiration from espresso machines, a fine mesh is integrated into the capsule to diffuse water. The capsules are also made of stainless steel, so users can easily wash them or even throw them in the dishwasher after use.
An increased height allows for easy removal from the “espresso handle”, and an extruded rim so users can effortlessly remove the lid.
Capsule Innovation
Brewing Process
To brew a cup of coffee, the user inserts the reusable capsule into a handle component inspired by traditional espresso machines.
The tactile experience of inserting and rotating the capsule adds excitement and joy to your morning coffee ritual.
How To
One Pour Per Capsule
Elevated prepping experience
Existing reusable capsules are not popular due to their perceived inconveniences with time and effort. To streamline the process, we are using the re:Mix blender’s universal mason jar lid attachment to design an intuitive coffee ground dispenser which takes inspiration from sugar dispensers.
Easier and Better
Story Board
Moving Forward
How can we move towards providing a fully sustainable kitchen
by focusing on core tasks performed within the space?
Opportunity–Toaster
Seeing Open Funk being so successful in designing repairable small appliances, we saw an opportunity in redesigning the toaster—one of the most commonly disposed appliances in the kitchen.
Why Toaster?
Many of their components, such as:
-
spring mechanism
-
heating element
-
residue build
can easily cause the toaster to break.
Only 25% of them are repaired and their average lifespan is only 5 years.
re:Crisp
Toaster built for repair
Sharing Parts
The re:Crisp toaster uses the same side panels as the coffee machine, allowing Open Funk to take an extra step towards sustainability by reducing their carbon footprint from manufacturing.
One to Two
Design Language System
"re:" Product Family
The toaster features intuitive interaction, with a crumb tray to pour out excess crumbs and a lever emulating the handle form from re:brew, further unifying the design language system across Open Funk’s products.
Additionally, it also incorporates more shared components by using thesame control dial from the re:Mix blender.
Easy Repair
Disassemble
Each joint, including the internal parts, like the circuit board, handle, and insulators, are carefully designed so they can all come apart from the body and be replaced when needed.
No adhesives are used for the connections, and wires are connected with wire connecting blocks, making disconnecting each part easier.
re:Kitchen
Series of circular appliances changing the way users interact and fix home appliances
Packaging
Shipping Your Products
Through thoughtful packaging, users experience Open Funk’s commitment
to sustainability from the moment they receive their products.
Sustainable materials, such as hemp seed fillers, soy ink and paper stickers are used as an eco-friendly alternative for packaging materials.
Reduce, Reuse, Repair
Open Funk’s products are built to remain within the sustainability loop by engaging in genuine repairability.
We envision OpenFunk’s product to accompany their users for a lifetime, repair after repair.
We're on a mission to change the way we make and fix home electronics
