What is a mirror-like remote control that blends in with the interior?Untold Story of the Development Process: Employee interview with a design engineer
*This article is a translated version, which was published on August 25, 2023
This is a sudden question, but how do you feel about the way your air conditioner remote control looks?
I guess perhaps it’s a white, elongated one made of plastic? There's a chance that some of you may have forgotten where you put it and don't remember what it looks like. 💦
Take a look, and here's the remote control for air conditioners we offer in North America!
Looks like a mirror, doesn't it? It features a design that blends in with various interiors and living spaces. Moreover, it's wall-mounted, so there's no need to worry about forgetting where you put it.
As we worked on this project, we surveyed 10 U.S. states, including New York and Washington. Our research began with a detailed analysis of the local lifestyles. Read on as we interviewed the person responsible for the design to gain insight into the completion process! 🎤
Beyond Manufacturing
To start with, what kind of remote control is this?
Simply put, it's a remote control that is easy to operate and becomes part of the interior even when unused.
In every room, you will find a remote control. To add significance to its presence, we wanted to give it a purpose and make it resonate with the surrounding space.
In other words, our intention was for it to contribute to the design of a space rather than a mere standalone piece of equipment.
Further, we made sure to minimize the mechanical components of the product to guarantee its longevity as an interior piece that will not be affected by changing trends. This resulted in a versatile style that seamlessly fits into any space.
The goal was a smartphone
I see! Can you tell me the particular aspects you concentrated on?
We first focused on the way local customers operate their remote controls. It isn't easy to generalize, but our survey in the U.S. showed the following trends in operations.
Set up multiple functions upon installation or at the start of the cooling/heating season (e.g., creating a weekly operating schedule)
The remote control is used daily for minimal tasks such as setting the temperature and checking its performance.
These indicate that remote controls used only occasionally require display functions that are intuitive and easy to navigate.Our takeaway from these was to aim for a smartphone many people are familiar with. Specifically, the main goal of our efforts was to prioritize intuitive operation and minimal screen display.
Why mirror?
You can handle it with the same ease as a smartphone!
What other challenges did you come across?
As I mentioned earlier, the most extended period when it is not in use is of utmost importance. That’s why we emphasized its need to correspond with the space and interior.
One of the most challenging tasks was to select the suitable materials. To determine the preferred textures of North American customers, we developed prototype models of six commonly utilized patterns in interior design: glass, ceramics, wood, metal, mirror, and fabric. Subsequently, we carried out a questionnaire survey in the region to collect data on these materials.
Our initial prediction of the "Cloth" winning first place was proven wrong, when the "Mirror" was chosen as the most popular option!
The display appearing on the mirror surface looks like a smart mirror (a mirror resembling a touch-operated smartphone) and is "advanced," which was why many people chose the material.
However, while creating a mirror-like remote control, you must meticulously consider the trade-off between reflection and an easily legible display.
In exchange for ease of viewing, the mirror sacrifices the material's texture. So, we created more than 100 prototypes to meet requirements such as transparency, effect of reflection, and fingerprints.
In addition, there was a period when development was temporarily suspended due to internal reasons. During that period, another company put out a product with a similar texture. Honestly, it was quite frustrating to see another company getting ahead of us with a similar texture. Despite the challenges, however, we viewed this as a valuable experience and channeled our frustration into driving our development efforts forward. We were confident that we were on the right track!
Background Thoughts
More than 100 prototypes..!
What were the aims driving the development process?
Our development process is centered around design thinking, with a strong emphasis on providing our customers with unparalleled new value and meeting their unique needs.
That is a very technical expression. What exactly does it mean?
In recent years, the value demanded of products has shifted from emphasizing "things" to "experiences." To put it differently, consumers are seeking more than just tangible products and services; they desire "experiences" like "comfort" and "excitement" from consuming them. Our aim is to fulfill these needs by offering unparalleled design experiences. This is our ultimate goal!
Challenges to the World
I see your point. It’s essential to deliver an “experience”!
Last but not the least, what is your outlook for the future?
Overseas sales account for approximately 70% of our air conditioner sales. Moving forward, we aim to bolster our "design thinking-based customer-driven development product process" for overseas markets!
In pursuit of this goal, we will enhance our collaboration with development bases worldwide. Ultimately, we intend to contribute to creating new value and resolving social issues by providing our products while pursuing "Fujitsu General's character"!✨
Interested in the design concepts of our other products? Check out our official website for more details!
We are excited to collaborate with you again in the future! Thank you for your valuable time.
The remote control showcased here was honored with the "Good Design Award 2022" and recognized as a finalist for the esteemed "IDEA 2023" in the United States, solidifying its place among the world's top three design awards!
Encouraged by this recognition, we will continue to take on further challenges and create products closer to our customers.
Thank you for reading to the end.
Stay tuned for future staff interviews!