January 1, 2021

More than ever this year, our kitchen appliances have taken a leading role in the kitchen. Refrigerators and freezers have been tested for their capacity and ability to keep foods fresher for longer. Ovens and ranges have produced more home cooking than ever before – as well as a few out-of-the-box cooking projects for those stuck at home. KBB spoke with four prominent designers to find out more about the challenges they face now and their thoughts about the future of kitchen appliance design.

“The Vinotemp backlit series appliances are my favorite designs to date. It is the accumulation of everything I love and learned throughout the years put into a product,” said Hynes.

Changes During 2020

“As with many other jobs, responsibilities and the industries, our job was also very much impacted by the pandemic as well. For example, much of the product collaboration that would happen in person has been converted to be more virtual. This poses challenges in the fact that you can see what is being done but are not able to interact and touch and feel as much. Due to these, we have to really work even closer together with our trusted colleagues and partners to help make critical decisions and drive the development down the right path.”

– Scott Kim, director of product marketing at Dacor

“The pandemic has boosted trends that we already started to see in the last few years. I mean cooking more at home was already an upward trend – everyone was in love with spending time in the kitchen and entertaining people to unleash their master chef skills. The pandemic just amplifies it. The other point brought to the forefront through the pandemic is more psychological, and that is about trust. People are choosing to be surrounded by products that have their total confidence – both in use and enjoying the results.”

– Marco Guerzoni, marketing director/product development, Forza

“The most obvious global change everyone is going through is the time spent at home. People work from home, and students of all ages are now doing their studies virtually. Our staff and I are no exceptions. This inevitable change has gotten us into thinking that all the furniture and kitchen appliances – even including the way houses are built – will undergo a massive shift.”

– Annie Kim, LG Electronics

“Every idea I come up with comes from online versus being able to touch or see it now. The pandemic has changed where I draw inspiration from drastically.”

– India Hynes, CEO of Vinotemp

“One of my favorite products I had a hand in creating is the Dacor 48-in. Six-Burner Dual-Fuel Steam Range,” said Scott Kim. “It features class-leading performance, such as real-steam cooking and exclusive four-part pure convection and incorporates a feature that really represents the history of Dacor – six burners.”

Appliance Design in the Future

“I believe the evolution of the home appliance began with many manufacturers thinking beyond the white box and really implementing new technologies and putting forth a lot of effort in great design. With these exciting changes, the kitchen appliance won’t just be seen as a box of necessity but rather a platform for creativity, incorporating the latest technologies and innovations on par with any other consumer electronic. You will see further iterations and improvements of connectivity, better user interfaces and interactions and overall, a much better incorporation into a digital ecosystem.”

– Scott Kim, Dacor

“It’s hard to predict the style, however, I anticipate that users will appreciate more of an unconventional style instead of the traditional/standard one. People are looking for a brand that intimately responds to their needs and offers something unique that they can connect to. In terms of the product experience, kitchen appliances will become more and more user friendly – and that doesn’t mean hyper sophisticated but definitely more enjoyable in the way you use it and the performance you get out of it. In terms of color, I would say less gray and stainless steel than we’re seeing now.”

– Guerzoni, Forza

“Since home appliances are typically owned and used for a longer period of time. They have been relatively slower in terms of having the advanced, cutting-edge technology as compared to all the other categories like fashion, mobile phones and the like. But as we are transcending fast into the AI (artificial intelligence)-based world, home appliances cannot be an exception. Further advancement will be other home appliances, like an oven or a dishwasher, being able to have an upgrade to the point where they will act accordingly to the refrigerator’s signals.”

– Annie Kim, LG Electronics

“Appliances in the future will have more practical intelligence with less gimmicks at a more affordable price. The landscape is changing with more demand in certain aspects, like 18-in. designs or items being built for the garage.”

– Hynes, Vinotemp

“The Forza 36-in. Professional Gas Range has been a great journey that has taken two years to complete, but it has been worth every minute,” said Guerzoni. “But using another quote from our land, the best Forza ever made is the next one… the 48 inch!

Favorite Part of the Job

“I love when you see a brand-new product come down the manufacturing line that really symbolizes all of the hard work and effort the various different teams put in to perfect it.  Additionally, when I see someone utilize the product and really enjoy it, it further solidifies the importance of our role and also brings us so much joy and motivation to keep doing what we’re doing.”

– Scott Kim, Dacor

“The whole process of creating a new product is pretty exciting. Every step has its own specific challenge, but when you see the result of that first idea come to fruition, you feel like you’ve created a new baby. And then you just want to start the process again and again…”

– Guerzoni, Forza

“The fact that I can imagine the future and what has never been done before is absolutely my favorite part. It’s such a challenge on a daily basis – coming up with fresh thinking and new ideas – and it gives me such pride and satisfaction.  The challenges I face having to come up with what is not already out there is a source of pride and satisfaction for me. It is just like being in a movie as a character experiencing something I have never in my life!”

– Annie Kim, LG Electronics

“Designing and creating something from scratch to the end result is my favorite part while being recognized for my work by my colleagues.”

– Hynes, Vinotemp

“The pro-range with industry-first sous-vide, gas and induction is my all-time-favorite product because there was so much work and dedication in executing the product – including the precision control knobs,” said Annie Kim.