Mini Kettle Designs
Duo designed and developed a range of kettle concepts. The impetus for the mini kettle was to create a completely new product category for kettles ideally outside of the kitchen.
By looking at kettles from a different perspective, enabled duo to explore new ways and environments for the kettle to be used.
Assessing both the market trends and potential avenues for the mini kettle, duo outlined 9 different user groups with statistics to support these theory's.
Once the concepts and ideas had been developed, duo began to design the way the products would look and be manufactured. This was where we decided to develop a concept of a chameleon like product.
The final mini kettle product was essentially the same but with changeable snap on covers an accessories. This would allow for both the stage development of the different designs as well as the easy addition of more style with minimal development and cost.
Here are the 9 concept designs that we highlighted for the mini kettle.
DIY Mini Kettle
Outdoor hobbies have never been so popular. However, the journey into the kitchen for a tea break between working on the car, garden or latest home improvement project can leave a trail of dirty footprints which will not be so popular.
The DIY Mini Kettle is the ideal solution. Its robust form fits in with any workshop environment and its compact size allows for convenient storage. The DIY Mini Kettle helps make your shed or garage a home away from home.
Study Kettle
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) recently announced that University admissions for 2003 are around 340,000, up 1% on the previous year. The university of Edinburgh published figures that stated only 16.5% of their students live at their parental home during their university education. If this figure is an average across the rest of the UK this equates to a 283,900 students moving into new homes.
Students want fun products for their new independent lifestyles. The Student Mini Kettle's cute one litre capacity and wacky surface pattern will catch the attention of these young fun seekers. Its eye-catching appearance will stand out in any room making it a must to show to your friends.
Executive Kettle
Executives often find themselves working long hours to meet the increasing demands of the modern work place. When working late the next boost of caffeine is never far away with the executive kettle. This kettle offers hot refreshments on demand and is a stylish addition to today's office environment.
The combination of metal and plastic are possible because of the kettles versatile method of manufacture. These materials create a visual aesthetic that blends a professional look and a high quality feel. At a premium price it is aimed at the customer with a more discerning taste.
A compact design allows for more flexibility and takes up little space. No office is too small for the executive mini kettle.
Classic Tea Set
The traditional cup of tea has for years been the centrepiece of the British way of life. However, the inconvenience of walking to the kitchen, the effort of opening cupboards, and grappling with a heavy kettle can turn tea making into a chore.
The classic tea set, containing mini kettle, cups, teapot and storage is a modern product for traditional tea making. The light one litre capacity
of the mini kettle is user-friendly to the more mature, perhaps arthritic user. The drawers in the storage tray include all the necessary ingredients for that perfect cuppa. Small, compact and self-contained, the classic tea set can easily be kept within reach of the armchair.
Mini Pop Kettle
Leaving the parental home is becoming more financially difficult. Increasing house prices are forcing young working adults to stay at home longer. They often have large amounts of disposable income and their bedrooms are developing into self-contained living areas. With portable televisions, videos, games systems, and more recently, mini fridges, they are creating homes within homes.
The pop kettle with its innovative design contributes to this growing trend for further independence. Hot drinks can now be made within the bedroom. Its compact size fits easily into this environment and its bright individuality will appeal to young fashion orientated consumers who want products to fit their personality.
Work Mate
Data from the Labour Force Survey shows that last year 2.2 million people worked as home workers in their main job. The growth of home working among employees since 1997, at 82%, is even faster than among the self-employed (48%). Companies are becoming more tolerant of staff working at home.
Working and drinking hot beverages go hand in hand. However, when working from your household study the kitchen kettle can seem just too far away. But with the 'work mate mini kettle', that hot drink is within arms reach. Sold with a self-contained tray, cups and caddy this mini kettle is a valuable addition to the stress free comfortable environment of your home.
Room Service Mini Kettle
There are over 48,000 hotels, motels and guest houses with a total of 1.2million bed spaces in the uk. The vast majority of these contain hot drink making facilities.
Duo believes mini kettle has design attributes that could help you improve your market share in this sector. Utilising adaptable components, 'mini kettle' can easily become part of the hotel's corporate identity. A small compact design with a 4 cup capacity, allows for more efficient water heating; this coupled with a simple but stylish design, means the kettle would lend itself to any hotel decor.
Camper Kettle
The campervan or caravan for many people is the best way to get away, making up 5% of all UK residents' domestic holidays. Modern caravans are fitted with all the latest 'mod-cons'. Today's caravaning enthusiasts seem more interested in buying the latest gadgets for convenience rather than roughing it in the wild.
The Camper Mini Kettle is small, easy to store away and comes with a low voltage adaptor. No more worrying about trying to find a match or running out of gas on the camping stove, the mini kettle simply plugs in and boils. When holidaying on the move this kettle is indispensable for that early morning cup of tea.
Teachers Pet
In England alone there are 510,000 teachers and 97,000 university academic staff. Due to the reduction in the numbers of people going into the education industry, the teaching profession is under stress. Being a teacher today can be thirsty work with long hours and few breaks.
The teacher's pet is here to help. Sitting quietly at the desk, it is ready to make teacher a drink whenever required. With its stylish leather finish and ability to fit into any classroom this mini kettle is ahead of its class.