GE Appliances

Overview

Designed and pitched the idea of individual refrigerator containers for shared spaces.

Challenge

Develop a connected product and services-based business for the client, incorporating each of the three business opportunities. We had to connect three areas which were Meal Orchestration, Health, and Fitness.

Industry Research

We conducted an industry research using some helpful tools like Business canvas model. This helped us gain insights about the industry, markets and customer segments.

Research Insights

- The number of 25 to 34-year-old living with housemates increased by a whopping 39 percent from 2005 to 2015, from 5.7 to 7.4 percent.

- Large appliances are durable goods with 10+ year life-spans, but people’s needs change much more quickly than their appliances do

- Current kitchen layouts/designs are based on acceptance of antiquated technological constraints which have created inefficiencies in power consumption and space utilization

- Revenue growth for the Meal kit industry is expected to increase during the five years to 2022

22,606,282

Higher Education Students in the US

~ 2,430,257

Students living in dorms

Target Users

- Whether in a shared space with family, friends or housemates, most kitchen appliances are used by multiple individuals

- Students in on-campus housing (dorms)

- Students in off-campus housing

- People living in shared houses, apartments, hostels

Stakeholders

For this concept, the stakeholders which were involved were Universities, Hostels, and Apartment Housings

The Problem

The problems which we addressed are specified below :

- Different dietary needs

- Old, Expired or forgotten food

- Lack of personalization

- Lack of storage space

- High Upgrade Cost

- High Energy Consumption

Design Thinking

Journey Maps and Use Case Diagram

Sketches

We had to hand sketch the design concept to get a clear picture of the product and its design.

Solution

We designed a modular refrigerator as a solution for the above problems. Proposed features :

- Individual Compartments for each person

- Connected mobile app environment

- Subsidized prices through universities.

- Students can place orders through University portals.

- Easy trade in programs available with the universities in cases where the students already own refrigerators.

- Easy maintenance and service offered by universities

- Student can subscribe and buy discounted meal kits

Features

- Customizable compartments. available in various storage patterns (Vertical, Horizontal, Mix-Match) depending on a number of users and their needs.

- Each compartment is portable, can be used with other similar GE refrigerator frames.

- Power efficient: power saving mode for individual compartment

3D Rendering

We went a step further to find how the product looks and feels like.

High Fidelity Prototype

We designed an application which we accompany this product and will help the consumers :

- Get connected to the modular refrigerators

- Manage Inventory

- Personalize Recipies

- Order Meal Kits

- Fetch Health Stats

- Manage Maintenance and Services

Market Space for GE

In addition to the product design, we also came up with some effective marketing strategies for our client GE appliances. We proposed a journey map to help our client take care of partnerships, advertising, marketing, and sales.

- Start targeting top 50 universities in Boston (more than 50 universities)

- Marketing strategies will include

- Digital ads on University portal

- Discounts, trade-in, exchange offers

- Demos and promotions in university fairs

- Service centers and customer support

- Advertisements on home builders websites