Product design and user interface for the V-ZUG «Excellence Line»

User-centered design for kitchen appliances

The mission of V-ZUG is to produce state-of-the-art appliances with a focus on precision, design, materials and durability for a unique lifestyle. The goal of the collaboration with Milani was to create a new generation of kitchen appliances. During the development, it was important to respect the design of previous appliances and to take it into the future. In particular, the way the appliances are operated had to be rethought.

From the initial innovation concepts to the final design sketches, Milani shaped the design of the new line and, together with V-ZUG, consistently designed the project with the user in mind. Milani and V-ZUG conducted numerous user interviews for better understanding of  the cooking needs and behavior of different user groups. During the development process, Milani also realized regular usability tests to check the new products for user-friendliness and to optimize the user experience.

With the design of the hardware and software, Milani and V-ZUG have created an outstanding, seamlessly integrated user experience that meets the needs of a wide range of chefs and cooks. The new "Excellence Line" is astonishingly easy to use, despite its many options. With a subtle design of materials, colors and shapes, it masters the balancing act between cool Swiss high-tech and emotional sensory pleasure. With their puristic design and mirror-glass fronts available in black, platinum and pearl, Excellence Line appliances fit harmoniously into the architecture and atmosphere of every kitchen.

Simplexity design for the user interface

Both the product and user interface design language were captured by Milani in a style guide. The user interface is strongly oriented towards the simplicity design approach. This means that products should be designed to be as simple as possible and as complex as necessary.This ensures that the needs of the users are at the center of all development activities. 

Together with V-ZUG, Milani designed the "Excellence Line" in several development cycles, with simple prototypes leading to more complex versions. Various prototypes were used to adapt the appliances to user needs, with the innovative Circle Slider in particular undergoing several test procedures.

First, Milani and V-ZUG tested the usability of the Circle Slider on a touch screen (wireframe) to ensure that it could be understood and operated by people of all ages. In a second step, Milani and V-ZUG developed a more complex, functional prototype. The Circle Slider was milled into the touchscreen and could again be tested and optimized for usability with different target groups.

The result is a completely intuitive and simple user experience: V-ZUG's "Excellence Line" appliances can be operated effortlessly by anyone, professional or amateur, right from the start.