Stand mixer | UX designer

GE Profile Connect+ enables over-the-air updates of new features such as new guided recipes as they become available.

There hasn't been much innovation in stand mixer since 1930, except the colors.

The baking experience can be optimized in many ways, and GE appliance decided to lead the innovation.

Baking is a time-consuming act of love. It requires precision and is perceived as being ‘less forgiving’ than cooking. A stand mixer that can speed up the process and help take the guesswork out of baking is an appealing proposition. We wish comsumers can be excited by the endless possibilities this mixer can provide and believe that it will help them learn new skills and create new desserts and dishes to share with family and friends.

Our goals were to:
1. Make it easy and simple to use for anyone, anytime.
2. Utilize the SMART technology to help user get confidence on cooking.
3. Generate an centralized system for recipe inspiration and organization.

My role:
I was the main designer of the connected stand mixer experience between Steptember 2021 and June 2022 and collaborated with two other designers on the control page, dash board and statuses, Auto sense and guided recipe features.

Besides, I worked with industrial designer, Engineer, market researcher, local chef and 2 product managers. I contributed on the project after 16 recipes laid out with, JSON archetypes and the first user test as my internship ends.

The GE Profile smart Mixer launched on December 31, 2022, and exhibited in CES 2023.

From 0-1

Empower stand mixer with endless possibilities

Next Project

Reimagine

baking experience

Front-facing digital display shows speed, timer and weight of ingredients.

Auto sense technology monitors changes in texture and viscosity to optimize mixing performance.

Built-in smart scale precisely weighs ingredients right in mixing bowl or other container.

Step-by-step guided recipes connected to the smart stand mixer.

INTRODUCING SMART BAKING

The overall smart baking experience

Recipe Flow

Auto sense recipe
Tutorial cards
Baking preference
Step by step recipe
Mix stages feedback

Error reminder

Error reminders
Technical helps
Safety concerns

Remote mixer control

Off/ Manual mode/ Remote enabled
Dashboard/Control design
Reverse access
Timer setting

SMART BAKING EXPERIENCE

Product reveal

BEHIND STAGE

Product development

How can we translate product development methods into meaningful value for customers?

Methodology

Conduct six, one-hour, in-person sessions with 5-9 cooking/baking enthusiasts.
Sessions facilitated by GEA team members and Chef, Kathleen Douglas of Fresh Chef Experience.
Participants were recruited through the Kentucky Restaurant Association and Prospect ‘Mom’ Groups.

Gather Consumer needs and Expectation

Gather consumer feedback on the Auto Sense stand mixer prototype to ensure the product not only meets but exceeds consumer needs and expectations.

Human-centerd design thinking

Deep dive into behaviors and challenges in the kitchen and ideate ways in which the stand mixer can make life easier and more enjoyable for the baking/cooking enthusiast who has a desire to learn.

Priortize feature development

Collect feedback on the stand mixer and the app to ensure the product launches with meaningful features and benefits that resonate with consumers.

By setting zero distance to consumers

Co-creation strategy
Put product prototype into consumers' hands to gather actionable insights (test & learn) and surface improvement opportunities more quickly before launch to keep the overall consumer insight driven product development process to increase the likelihood of the new product to be consumers' next favorite things.

How did I supported co-creation?

Planed for each co-creation session with PM, and marketing researcher.
Provided workable prototype that represent the topic feature to demo.
Conducted 1 on 1 discussion with participants and took notes.
Synthesised valuable insights with the team and adjust contents for next session.

Set up the stage

Question 1

What function matters the most in baking routine?

Question 2

What's users expectation towards stand mixer?

Question 3

How build-in recipe help bakers to cook?

Three questions I keep in mind during co-creation:

During Co-creation, It was important to understand users thoughts and concerns towards the new products. I create a mind map sorting baking experience topics after discussed with product manager and marketing researchers, which will helps us keep the questions in mind when we talk to participants.

Gather their initial thoughts, keep asking WHY

Based on the mind map, we designed subjects with basic script that intended to discuss in each session. During App review, prototypes are easy to understand and intuitive to vision. The key of comsumer discussion is to keep ask WHY. Keep the conversation forward and encourage them to share story.

Example for 1st session:

Group 1 (20 minutes)
We are going to give each of you a smart phone (don’t worry, everything has been sanitized). Together, we are going to walk through/review a prototype for an app. As we click through, I would like you to use the pages in front of you to jot down words that come to mind. Feelings. Questions. Concerns. Is the content clear and concise? Does the content seem helpful? Again, there are no right or wrong answers. We are looking for your initial ‘gut’ reactions. No need to write too much; just the initial words that pop into your head. We will pause after each screen and have a quick discussion. See *D1-D8.
Home Screen- Click on Stand Mixer (D1)
Click on Smart Sense (D2)
Click on Basic Whipped Cream Recipe (D3)
Click on Measure It/Start (D4)
Heavy Cream- Click Next (D5)
Sugar- Click Next (D6)
Mix- (Press Start on the mixer) but since we don’t have the mixer in front of us, we will just click start (on the screen). (D7)
2 Minutes Left- Click Next (D8)
1 Minute Left- Click Next (D8)
Done! (D8) In closing:

What are the top three benefits that come to mind after quickly walking through this app?
Is this app for someone like you? If so, why? If not, for whom do you believe this app was designed? Please be as descriptive as possible.

Rotate Group

More, but user-driven

In order to ensure the product launches with meaningful feature and benefits that resonate with consumers, we ideated seveals functions in app to not only meets but exceeds consumer needs and expectations. Designers took the task of designing user flows to represent features that might be included in the future phase. As the result, the co-creation team is able to dive deep into behavior and challenges in the kitchen and generate ways in which the product can make life easier and more enjoyable.

In order to establish a smart recipe& kitchen appliance hub, GE wants to host and own the user content by collaborating with recipe partners like chef, influencer, recipe business, cooking classes.
Consumers can explore, share, store and implement recipes through GEA suite of smart & major appliances.

Recipes provided by local Chef Kathy:

Develop product

Business strategy leads to design strategy

DEVELOP PRODUCT

Business strategy leads to design strategy

The jobs for me was to establish Stand mixer app UX/UI, Such as commissioning, Controls, diagnostic, setting, and implementing consistant design system to accommodate various recipe contents, both present and future.

Here is a example of a simple recipe:

Interpret chef's recipe for product and user.

Generate recipes

Add/import recipes
Customized recipes
Digital recipe organization

My recipes

Recipe organization tool
Recipe inspiration
Save recipe as"my favorite"
Search function

The Design system continues to grow:

Based on design system and recipe layout, the smart recipes are able to grow in the future:

While implementing the project, unexpected challenges often arose. As an in-house designer, my role is to advocate for design and user needs. One vivid example was when engineers suggested removing the back button, arguing that the system would be messed up when users want to navigate back to previous steps while running a recipe. Their concern was that each step would triggers actions from the cloud to the mixer, such as weighing 10g of sugar.

DEVELOP PRODUCT

Dealing with technical constraints

We decided to address the issue through user interview. it came as no surprise that all participants express a desire for a “back”button in recipe. As the result, Designer embraced the challenge of designing a solution under technical constraints.

1. Collaboration with cross-functional team
Working within a big team can be challenging, but it’s common for designers to collaborate with various stakeholders.

 To better align with team, I leverage designer’s ability to deliver proposal with visualized content, ensuring it meet the needs and expectation of the entire team. Exceptionally, I created an infographic to explain the viewer mode in Figma, helping engineers familiarize themselves with the tool.

2. Keep the big picture in mind
The stand mixer project is not simply a "launch=end" product; it’s a starting point for establishing a smart recipe hub within GE's digital ecosystem.
By maintaining a holistic perspective, I actively served as a thinking partner to the product manager. When she became overwhelmed with other directions, I could remind her of what is beneficial for the current phase of our product. As a UX designer, I understand the challenges of being a product manager and navigating through numerous voices.

3. Value users voice

Co-creation is a valuable resource for understanding real users. Through interviews, we were able to identify and refine ambiguous problems to provide effective solutions.

Through six co-creation sessions, I gained deep insight into the needs and preferences of real users. When encountering disagreements with other stakeholders during the product development process, designers were able to advocate for users based on reasonable opinions.

BEYOND PRODUCT

Takeaways

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"App. Google Home. Alexa. How-to videos. I would use any of these, but if an app was specific to my exact mixer and model and could help, that would be most useful!"

------ Angie, a feature seaker

Key insights from co-creation

After 6 session throwed, the stand mixer and it’s anticipated benefits were well received by highly engaged participants. With insights of deep discussion and hands-on experience from them, there are many future opportunities for GE to address pain points that exit with current mixers.

CO-CREATION SUMMARY

Current mixer are "less than perfect"