Grundig Serenity: A Contemporary Tea Maker Redefining User Experience

Designed by Mert Ali Bukulmez, Grundig Serenity Combines Retro-Futurism and Scandinavian Simplicity

The inspiration for Grundig Serenity came from a desire to combine retro-futuristic style with Scandinavian simplicity. The result is a tea maker that stands out from its counterparts in the market, not just in terms of aesthetics, but also in terms of user experience. The dock of the tea maker is smaller than the body, giving the product a unique identity as it appears to hover above the ground. The slightly curved body, combined with sliced surfaces, further enhances the unique identity of the product.

Grundig Serenity is made using Polypropylene (PP) and Xenoy (PBT+PC) through injection moulding. The dimensions of the product are 173mm(max.) x 250mm(max.) x 260mm. The lower section of the tea maker is for boiling water and stands on the dock, which connects to power. The upper section is for tea. The interaction point of the product is the lower handle, with LED dots on the handle providing feedback to the user about the operation.

The design process for Grundig Serenity started in January 2019 and was completed in May 2019. The project was an internship project that took place at Arçelik Group in Istanbul, Turkey. The research for the project focused on user experience, working principles for tea makers, components, and sketch modelling. Conversations with engineers and focus groups with interface mock-ups were also part of the research process.

Finding a unique and simple form for the product was one of the most challenging aspects of the design process. Bukulmez had to create numerous sketch models and mock-ups to refine the design language and make it as simple as possible. Despite these challenges, the end product is a testament to Bukulmez's commitment to creating aesthetically pleasing products that offer a joyful user experience.

The copyrights for Grundig Serenity belong to Arçelik A.Ş, 2019. The design was awarded Silver in the A' Home Appliances Design Award in 2020, a testament to its outstanding expertise and innovation. The award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.