Creating a Luxury UI for Thermador from Scratch
Thermador, a brand synonymous with luxury kitchen products, faced a significant challenge. While their appliances were renowned for exceptional cooking performance, their user interface (UI) did not meet the modern expectations of luxury consumers. The project aimed to bridge this gap by developing a UI that matched the brand's high standards.
Role
Luc took the initiative to build and train a specialized team from the ground up, focusing on UI/UX Design, Requirements Engineering, and UX Research. By personally mentoring key roles, he established new performance benchmarks for the region.
Methodology
Requirements Engineering:
Developed a detailed project charter, outlining the objectives, scope, and constraints. This served as the foundation for all subsequent development efforts.
Agile Sprints:
Implemented Agile methodology, organizing the work into sprints to rapidly prototype, test, and iterate the UI designs.
Stakeholder Management:
Engaged with a broad range of stakeholders, from design teams to end users, ensuring all perspectives were considered in the development process.
Visual Branding:
Focused on aligning the UI with Thermador's luxury brand image, ensuring a consistent and premium visual experience.
Design System:
Created a scalable design system that promoted reuse and managed complexity effectively, enhancing overall design efficiency.
Bill of Materials (BOM) Optimization: Worked closely with stakeholders to optimize the BOM, balancing cost and performance requirements.
UX Testing:
Conducted extensive UX testing to validate the interface with real users, ensuring usability and satisfaction.
Results
Enhanced Brand Image:
The new UI significantly elevated Thermador's brand perception with a 78% higher satisfaction score among polled customers (pre-release)
Improved Usability:
Resolved all major user error issues with the prior UI and HMI, contributing to the above user satisfaction score
Cost and Time Efficiency:
Agile sprints and a robust design system reduced development time by 40% and significantly lowered risk due to scope change, demonstrating effective project management and resource utilization.
Lessons Learned
challenge user requirements when they are unclear or at the wrong level
understand dependencies for design development (design systems, assets, style guides, global requirements)
when exploring concepts, SCRUM may not be the best agile frame, favoring Lean Startup instead