project bates
Bridging the Laundry Gap
Kaleidoscope for Procter & Gamble 2021-2022
Project Lead
How might we…
design a system that freshens laundry between washes?
Using P&G’s proprietary light-activated chemistry
our mission:
Design a premium system that uses light-activated cleaning technology to refresh clothing between washes
Create a solution that can be hung in the closet or on a hook
Leverage familiarity with garment bags as a starting point
Tackle the “laundry chair”
light-activated spray-on chemistry
illumination +
Bag architecture
design constraints
Low-profile form factor - not bulky or appliance-like
Made of durable, cleanable materials
Variety of hanging use-cases – primarily side access
Aesthetically appealing bag drives higher purchase intent
Flexible to different use-patterns
Inputs
Target Users
Formal working class
pain points
Owns a limited amount of work clothes and constantly needs to do laundry
Must dry clean work attire instead of just laundering it
Goes through 2-3 outfits a day
Doesn’t need to fully wash these outfits after just one day
deal breakers
It can’t clean an entire outfit
It is ugly/takes up a lot of space.
laundry superhero
pain points
Does laundry for her family everyday for items that are barely dirty.
Dry cleaning is expensive and an additional chore.
Wants laundry to be less complicated so that her younger kids could do it on their own.
deal breakers
It can’t clean multiple clothes at once.
It is labor intensive/complicated.
It’s only temporary and will break
ideation
cross-functional brainstorm
I facilitated a collaborative brainstorming session with cross-functional stakeholders from design, engineering, marketing, and R&D, where we collectively generated innovative concepts for a bag that emits light to activate the chemistry.
We organized the most promising features into three distinct concept directions: Collapsible Bag, Minimal Enclosure, and Wrap Around Bag
minimal
enclosure
wrap-
around bag
collapsible bag
down selection
After evaluating multiple concepts, the team downselected to the minimal enclosure concept for the laundry refreshing bag as it was the least likely to look bulky or appliance-like, aligning with our goal of creating a premium and appealing enclosure.
holistic concept
The final design consists of a minimal, hard top enclosure. Users access the bag through a magnetically sealed door, which communicates to the bag when the door is open/closed as a safety feature. The side opening provides easy access for users, and the non-screen UI intuitively guides the cycle selection process.
design & development
aspirational imagery
based on user environment
simple | convenient | tidy | calm | prepared
design language
We carefully selected neutral and not-too-trendy elements that will communicate quality and cleanliness, no matter what’s in style. The heathered grey fabric in denim blue and dove grey keeps the product firmly anchored in the realm of the home environment, while pops of bright blue and choiceful reveals of LEDs cue high-tech cleaning magic.
effective | neutral | active | accessible | clean
PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT
As the project lead, I was responsible for ensuring the various components were designed in consideration of the whole, and the system would function in its entirety. I coordinated the efforts of electrical and mechanical engineering as well as hardgoods and softgoods design as we took the rough design into the realm of the manufacturable.
Proof-of- principle model
We created a single Proof-of-Principle prototype (looks-like & works-like) to evaluate the benefits and limitations of the system through user testing.
The model included an interactive user interface, a fully functioning LED array, and a door closure safety system. At this point, the electronics are housed externally and are not integrated into the enclosure, for easy firmware updates.
testing & iteration
in-home testing
Our proof-of-concept prototype was tested by 7 consumers in-home. Overall, participants were excited about the concept of a hanging laundry refreshing system. The architecture of the bag was seen as intuitive, and consumers could readily imagine additional uses for the technology in their home.
user recommendations
Resize the bag to better fit available closet space - make it narrower
Love the magnetic closure, but want a continuous strip not individual magnets
Could the hanger be rotated so that the bag could be hung in other locations?
feature ideation
Following the in-home user testing, I led the team in a second round of ideation. We focused on the feedback shared by users, and explored improvements to the UI, bag opening, door hanging, and integrated spray solutions.
concept refinement
Following the brainstorm activity, we designed two potential configurations using the top-rising ideas from the brainstorm. These designs featured improvements to the garment hook, bottle placement, and added hanging versatility.
holistic concept
I guided the team in a round of design development, refining the form language of the laundry system to better appeal to our target market. We incorporated the best features from the two prior concepts, resulting in a single holistic design that seamlessly blended functionality and style, with usability improvements informed by the insights gained during user testing.
refinement & iteration
DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURING
SURFACE DETAILING
component integration
SOFTGOODS DEVELOPMENT
Following the redesign of the hardtop, it was necessary to update the textile components to ensure they aligned seamlessly with the new hardware. At this point, I also sourced a contract cut-and-sew manufacturer to fabricate the next revision of prototypes.
ergonomics
We refined the user interface to enhance usability and efficiency, referencing standard anthropometric references to ensure that the interface elements were positioned and sized appropriately, resulting in a seamless and intuitive user experience.
finalizing design
In the final round of design refinements, we focused on exploring various options for color, material, and finish to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the laundry refreshing bag, with the goal of seamlessly integrating into any living space.
