[Interview] The Design Behind the Story – How the Bespoke AirDresser Came to Satisfy a Broad Range of Global Consumers

With people spending an increased amount of time at home these days, it stands to reason that they would be looking to decorate the insides of their homes differently and more expressively. In particular, this has led to many going with an interior aesthetic that revolves around bright colors.

In May, Samsung Electronics introduced the Bespoke Home, which expanded the idea of Bespoke from the flagship Bespoke refrigerators to other appliances in the kitchen, then to appliances throughout the home.

The Bespoke AirDresser, the latest addition to the Bespoke lineup, has brought Bespoke design and smart features to Samsung’s innovative clothing care device. The product offers six different panel options in various finishes, spanning from Crystal Mirror to Cotta Charcoal, to allow users the freedom to find just the right fit for their home aesthetic.

Samsung Newsroom met with AirDresser product designers Jinsook Park and Jaejin Lee, and UX designers Haeyoon Park and Seungwoo Choi, to hear about how they designed an AirDresser with a Bespoke touch.

Accounting for the Preferences of Users Around the World

It’s not easy coming up with a design that will suit the tastes of such a broad range of users. The designers of the Bespoke AirDresser, in particular, had to put great thought into designing a final product that would captivate users from different cultures with varying values and living conditions.

The designers thus surveyed users, asking questions like where they would install the Bespoke AirDresser, how each member of their household would use it and what types of garments they would maintain with it. The insights gained from the surveys were then used to design the AirDresser’s clothing care experience. Samsung was also able to analyze clothing management experiences across different countries and generations from a total of 6,000 global users.

“People from different countries have different methods for taking care of their clothes. The global usage data for the first model laid the groundwork for the Bespoke AirDresser’s main features,” said Haeyoon Park. “We conducted interim assessments on not just the aesthetics, but also the convenience of the control panel and whether the option names and different clothing care cycles made sense to everyone.”

The designers also took accessibility into account to ensure they were creating a product that would be easy for anyone to use. “We did an ergonomic analysis and determined where the control panel should be, based on users’ average height and the viewing angle,” said Seungwoo Choi. “We also incorporated braille into the control panel for visually impaired users, and added different default audio tones for each option and process step in order to assist hearing-impaired consumers.”

Balancing Usability and Aesthetics

But for a solution to truly represent the best in home appliances, its beauty must be complemented by convenience. “We had to balance aesthetics and functionality while designing the Bespoke AirDresser’s range of accessories, such as the hangers that are made to maintain the form and fit of garments,” related designer Jinsook Park. “When outstanding usability is guaranteed, the beauty that the designers have established is accentuated all the more.”

It is also important to establish the right UX design. For instance, something as minor as the text being the wrong color or the sequence of information being slightly off can make the product difficult to use. “We’ve been working with GUI (Graphical User Interface) and UI (User Interface) designers since the planning stage to ensure that the product delivers information logically and consistently,” said Seungwoo Choi. “While working on the design, we conducted usability tests and strived to maintain a balance between usability and aesthetic appeal by studying whether design elements are affected by personal tastes, whether they affect usage patterns, and so on.”

Allowing the AirDresser to Become a Part of Day-to-Day Life

With its meticulous and detailed design, the Bespoke AirDresser is sure to be a fit with users’ interior spaces. The product’s door is designed to take up less space, while its replaceable front panel creates a feeling of spaciousness.

The panel is available in six different colors¹ and materials that include crystal mirror, glam and cotta. “If you need a mirror or are going for a gorgeous interior aesthetic, then go for the glam glass,” recommended designer Jaejin Lee. “If you would like to establish calm tones in your home, I recommend cotta.”

And the Bespoke AirDresser’s interface is a great complement to users’ day-to-day lives as well. The interface provides recommended cycles and automatic settings for each user so that they don’t have to worry about which cycle option to choose. For instance, if the user usually wears shirts on weekdays and outdoor clothing during the weekends, then the Bespoke AirDresser will display the shirt cycle first on weekdays and the outdoor clothing cycle first on weekends. “The Bespoke AirDresser recommends cycles using information like season, and also provides AI features to allow the users’ garments to be dried in the Bespoke AirDresser once they are done being washed,” said Haeyoon Park. “The more the Bespoke AirDresser is used, the more personalized and capable of fitting the user’s unique lifestyle it becomes.”

Making Home Appliances Fun

Even after the product has been launched, the designers are still working to make the Bespoke AirDresser captivating to everyone. “Home appliances provide convenience, but they can also come with stress because they are related to doing chores,” said Haeyoon Park. “We are continuing to analyze whether users experience any inconvenience in our quest to establish a product that makes consumers’ lives more convenient while also making using home appliances enjoyable.”

“Design trends are changing all the time, so I study trends in fields like fashion and furniture in order to better reflect users’ tastes,” said Jinsook Park. “I focus especially on furniture design, because it is a great reference for structure and design elements. I’d like to utilize this knowledge to come up with a design that provides convenience and meets users’ needs.”

These designers have strived to deliver both convenience and aesthetic beauty in the Bespoke AirDresser by delving deep into the lifestyles of consumers and analyzing their usage. Going forward, they will continue going to great lengths to provide users with the best possible experiences.

¹ Color and material options may differ by country.