The project involved studying the daily practices of Indian homes. I had to redesign the features inside the refrigerator for enhanced access and ease of usage such that it accommodated the diversity of Indian households, to be easily used by not only the homemakers but also by the helping maids. For me it was more about proposing a solution that could answer a real Indian need.

The process included understanding the tasks that users perform by examining the activity of buying, storing, cooking, preserving and consuming across cultures, and parallel daily chores like washing clothes, upkeep, looking after kids, personal activities. Thus, I had to holistically analyse needs and goals, identify scope for improvement, and propose solutions.

Intensive research was carried out involving marketing team, sales team, design team and ground researchers to lead to the conception of features for enhanced utility of the product. The concept that best fit the market strategies, differentiated itself from its competitive offerings, and above all struck the right balance between the user’s and the market’s need was chosen.

Designing for a high end consumer group was an enriching experience. I learnt how research plays an important role in the whole design process. While working on the project, I also realised how design has to compromise at certain levels when we consider constraints around it. But getting the same quality of design considering the constraints, was even more interesting.