Internet of Things in the domestic kitchen

A true household name in British Kitchens, with quality, innovation and design as its guiding principles, Kenwood saw the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) as an opportunity to push its products forward.
 
Kenwood employed PDR to identify the compelling user needs that should act as the driving force behind the technological innovation within its product range.
 
After using desk-based research to first identify future trends regarding the kitchen and technology these were then utilised in a variety of studies with both existing users and ‘millennials’ – future users who have grown up in the digital age.

PDR combined design research and futures studies by using a variety of methods including: questionnaires, participatory design, ethnographic observation and creative workshops. 

The outputs of these studies were triangulated to uncover both existing hurdles and barriers to effective kitchen use and the future needs and requirements that could be fulfilled through the proper utilisation of IoT.
 
When looked at in isolation these rich and meaningful insights were then used to provide individual product and service based solutions that would directly address the needs and desires of their users.  When looked at cumulatively, these insights were used to identify both an overarching theme and an underlying strategy for product development for the millennial generation.