Hydrowash Lavatrice

Press Kit

Unique Properties

Portable Semiautomatic twin tub washing machine designed to be pulled & moved single handedly.
Knobs & switches are located under the main lid to make the exterior clean & its interior intuitive.
Minimal monolithic exteriors with delightful detailing give it an unobtrusive & calming presence which allows it to be stored in any living space without visual intrusion or embarrassment.

Dimensions & Packaging

Width 830mm x Depth 545mm x Height 975mm
Energy Rating - 5 star
Voltage Range 230
Frequency 50 HZ
Operating current (A) 6

Tags

Intuitive, Mobility, craftsmanship, low-cost, functional, Unique, Refinement, Wash-Arena, Iconic, Monolithic

Production Technology

The design acknowledges all tactile, mental & habitual aspects of the wash process, from the most subtle to the very obvious.
It pushed the boundaries of current production capability & viability to create an Iconic next generation Washing machine
Using injection molded plastics allowed us to balance form & function to achieve our vision.
allowing us to achieve Its boat-like shape reflecting its mobility story.
Subtle but complex surfacing that accentuate its sculptural aspects & minimal part joinery detail all coming together to set a benchmark of Aesthetics, craftsmanship & user experience.

Design Challenge

Cost sensitivity, conservative mindset of the consumer segment were the main constraints for this unique & differentiated design. To make this vision a reality was a calculated risk for the business leaders, a formidable optimization challenge to the engineering and manufacturing team and test of persistence for the design team.
These intangible challenges were overcome by the passion and commitment to this design vision and the consumer benefit by all stakeholders at Whirlpool.

Research

The project looked into all aspects of daily life of the low income consumer.
An internal team created the methodology & closely guided it execution by an external research agency. Along with looking for practical insights of laundry activities, insights related to indirect factors like lifestyle, habits & culture were also extensively researched. Compassion & empathy for the consumer took the research to deeper level & provided insights that were not realized & expressed before. The new design was evaluated through a Nation wide user survey.
to Cover a huge spectrum of cultural & geographical diversity of India.
Full size prototypes & focus group discussions helped to clarify key insights.

Inspiration

To provide a delightful experience to a first time user who previously hand washed clothes, whose key expectations are reduced manual labor, functional simplicity & flexibility at a low price.
It’s Wash Arena interior contains all spills & splashes enables a hassle free wash experience & Its boat like profile, wheels & a Pull handle grant it intuitive ergonomic mobility to aid & celebrate all tactile effort of the user whilst seamlessly fitting into any practical & emotional context.

Project Duration

The Project started with design conceptualization in August 2019 and product was launched in the market in July 2022

Operation Flow

This semi automatic machine has 2 tubs, for washing & drying. Water is delivered to the tubs through a water selector inbuilt in the supply pipe interface. Operation of the wash & spin dry is controlled by the knobs. First two knobs control the time & intensity of the wash process, the other knobs control water level & dryer time. Clothes need to be manually transferred between the tubs. This machine mechanizes the clothes wash process in stages but keeps the entire process open to active customization & adjustment. This machine has an ergonomic pull handle & pronounced wheels that enables easily movement between storage & usage space making it an efficient addition to the lifestyle in low income compact housing.