Our client, IBaking, a subsidiary of the global appliance leader Haier, faced a saturated market. The smart oven segment was characterized by similar-looking products and intense price competition. The central challenge for the Haier Baker design project was to achieve a decisive breakthrough. IBaking partnered with LKK Design to develop the third-generation oven, tasking us with redefining the target user and the very concept of a "smart oven" through superior design.

The primary goal was to use design as a key differentiator. The objectives for the Haier Baker design were clear:

• Create a Unique Identity: Develop a strong visual identification to make the product instantly memorable.

• Ensure Authentic Intelligence: Design a user experience where smart features felt intuitive and valuable, not gimmicky.

• Master the Details: Engineer every physical interaction for ergonomic superiority and a premium feel.

• Integrate New Technology: Seamlessly incorporate a camera feature that genuinely enhanced the baking journey.

Our approach to the Haier Baker design was holistic, covering the entire development lifecycle from research to validation.

Design Research
Through user life observation and benchmarking, we identified a key insight: traditional, square ovens felt cold and impersonal. Users desired a kitchen appliance that was more friendly, engaging, and easier to use. This foundational research directly informed every subsequent Haier Baker design decision.

Industrial Design

• Emotional Form Language: We broke from tradition by introducing a distinctive rounded and warm form. This became the cornerstone of the Haier Baker design identity, making the product feel like an approachable kitchen companion rather than a mere tool.

• Integrated User Interaction: The display was seamlessly merged with the operation handle, and a fast-ring thumbwheel was added. This created a dynamic and intimate interactive experience, central to the new Haier Baker design philosophy.

Mechanical Structure Design

• Ergonomic Door Design: A key innovation was the frontally inward 8-degree door panel. This Haier Baker design feature provides an optimal and comfortable viewing angle for the user.

• Pioneering Modular Camera: LKK Design pioneered a modular, pluggable camera assembly. Its position was validated through hundreds of lighting simulations, ensuring it was a truly useful feature, not just a spec-sheet addition.

• Comprehensive Detailing: The Haier Baker design extended to hidden details like a concealed water tank and sunken heating tubes, ensuring a perfect blend of aesthetics, safety, and functionality.

Prototyping and Testing
We built and tested multiple prototypes to validate the Haier Baker design. This process ensured the ergonomics of the handle, the clarity of the camera, and the overall user experience met our rigorous standards before mass production.

The successful Haier Baker design delivered exceptional value, establishing IBaking as an innovation leader.

• Market Leadership: The T3 oven became a benchmark for product and user experience innovation in smart ovens.

• Immediate Impact: It was an instant success at major industry exhibitions like the Shanghai International Bakery Exhibition and CES Asia.

• Strategic Foundation: This Haier Baker design served as the core carrier for IBaking's baking ecosystem, marking its first step into a broader service-oriented strategy.

• Enduring Appeal: The design continued to earn acclaim years later, proving the timelessness and impact of its user-centered Haier Baker design.