DESIGN NAME: Classic Plus
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Water purifier
INSPIRATION: Aquaguard is one of India’s strongest brands, and the Classic water purifier represented the legacy of water purification for the brand. Yet, the design sensibility was clearly from the past and for a brand moving forward, it became critical to rechristen Classic through the lens of a new design. Dr. Aquaguard Classic+ is a redesigned product for Indian homes, that seeks to remove the visual clutter associated with water purifiers and present a clean aesthetic, inspired by Scandinavian design.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Dr. Aquaguard Classic+ is a wall-mounted water purifier, specially redesigned for Indian homes to save space and blend seamlessly with modern kitchens. The product features a unique in-wall mounting feature, giving it a sleek, flush and contemporary aesthetic, one that is usually reserved for premium, large appliances. The technology is presented as a singular consumer touchpoint – the smart-sense blinking star, indicating the purification performance.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: This new design allows for quick and easy servicing through the removal of the front casing, that is held onto the main body using discreet button magnets. This ensures a tool-free and ergonomic service method.
Our intention was to create a purifier that operates on one touch only. The blinking LED indicator integrated with a Cap-sense button intuitively signals the activation, the status of operation and the service requirement of the device.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project started in 2015 in Mumbai, India. The product was launched in the Indian market in July 2016. Classic+ has become the largest selling model for the Aquaguard brand and among the top selling water purifiers in India.
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Home Appliances Design
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: Classic+ is made with a unibody plastic, keeping it recycle friendly. The minimal design of front cover ensures the use of minimum plastic parts. The back cover, that goes inside the wall, is made of sheet metal using conventional processes, eliminating the need for any special tooling.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Width 310mm x Height 415mm x Depth 165mm
TAGS: Minimal design, redesign, water purifier, design for serviceability, designed in India
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: The design team conducted research into the rapidly evolving aesthetics of contemporary Indian homes, to help envision a purifier that blends seamlessly with the said environment. Another important area of research was space efficiency. Space is at a premium in most lower and middle class Indian homes, and bulky water purifiers make matters worse. Besides, water purifiers typically come with a clutter of pipes and wires that degrade the kitchen aesthetic.
CHALLENGE: Aquaguard’s Classic was launched in 1995 and went on to become one of the largest selling water purifiers in India. The challenge herein was to rethink this 21-year-old product, while maintaining its legacy and trust, but making it more relevant to present times. To achieve a slim and compact form, it was necessary to carefully optimize the arrangement of components, with due consideration to easy assembly and easy service.
ADDED DATE: 2018-02-26 05:50:48
TEAM MEMBERS (2) : Jashish Kambli and Kunal Borkar
IMAGE CREDITS: Future Factory LLP, 2017.
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