Client
Client
Casarte
Casarte
Role
Role
Product & Interaction Lead
Product & Interaction Lead
Time
Time
14 Months
14 Months
Product Team
Product Team
5 x iD
1 x UxUi (Me)
1 x UxUi (Me)
2 x Research
2 x Research
1 x CMF
1 x CMF
1 x Strategy
1 x Strategy
2024
Casarte Furnitech
Casarte Furnitech
Redefine the product category through scenario innovation and user-validated design visioning.
Redefine the product category through scenario innovation and user-validated design visioning.
Overview
Casarte Furnitech is the first product built on Casarte’s new zero-clearance refrigerator platform — a system designed to deliver the aesthetics of built-in appliances (fully flush with surrounding cabinetry) while retaining the flexibility of freestanding installation.
I served as the overall Project & Interaction Lead, shaping product experience through light, material, an embedded display, and physical ritual scenarios to create emotional effect. The interaction design intent was to make the object feel unassuming when idle, but capable of surfacing when in use — blending into its environment until called upon in daily routines.
Casarte Furnitech is the first product built on Casarte’s new zero-clearance refrigerator platform — a system designed to deliver the aesthetics of built-in appliances (fully flush with surrounding cabinetry) while retaining the flexibility of freestanding installation.
I served as the overall Project & Interaction Lead, shaping product experience through light, material, an embedded display, and physical ritual scenarios to create emotional effect. The interaction design intent was to make the object feel unassuming when idle, but capable of surfacing when in use — blending into its environment until called upon in daily routines.
Brand
Casarte is the premium sub-brand of Haier, positioned as a high-end line of kitchen and home appliances tailored to culinary enthusiasts and design-conscious users. The brand emphasizes advanced technology, precise control, and refined aesthetics — blending premium materials with smart, intuitive systems. Casarte products are designed to complement modern architectural interiors while supporting elevated, ritual-driven use.
Casarte is the premium sub-brand of Haier, positioned as a high-end line of kitchen and home appliances tailored to culinary enthusiasts and design-conscious users. The brand emphasizes advanced technology, precise control, and refined aesthetics — blending premium materials with smart, intuitive systems. Casarte products are designed to complement modern architectural interiors while supporting elevated, ritual-driven use.
Objectives
Product Framework — driven by platform strategy
①
Innovative Module
Innovative Module
Define a unique, user-validated exterior module that introduces a new feature and/or interaction pattern not found in traditional refrigeration.
Define a unique, user-validated exterior module that introduces a new feature and/or interaction pattern not found in traditional refrigeration.
②
Furniture-Interior
Furniture-Interior
Design an interior layout inspired by contemporary furniture principles — emphasizing material warmth, spatial rhythm, and EU-centric lifestyle integration.
Design an interior layout inspired by contemporary furniture principles — emphasizing material warmth, spatial rhythm, and EU-centric lifestyle integration.
③
Destinguished PI
Destinguished PI
Establish a signature product identity (PI) that can scale across future Casarte platform products.
Establish a signature product identity (PI) that can scale across future Casarte platform products.
④
CMF Innovation
CMF Innovation
Develop a CMF system with high perceived value — balancing own-able surface identity with user desirability.
Develop a CMF system with high perceived value — balancing own-able surface identity with user desirability.
Objectives
Interaction Design Goals — driven by primary research insights
①
Responsive Presence
Responsive Presence
Look and feel alive and intentionally responsive — conveying subtle sophistication
Look and feel alive and intentionally responsive — conveying subtle sophistication
②
Ambient Integration
Ambient Integration
When idle, the product contributes to the interior environment through light, material, and spatial stillness rather than passive utility.
When idle, the product contributes to the interior environment through light, material, and spatial stillness rather than passive utility.
③
Personal Rituals
Personal Rituals
Create a responsive interior–exterior connection that supports small, personal moments — not only function and storage
Create a responsive interior–exterior connection that supports small, personal moments — not only function and storage
④
Shy-Tech Interface
Shy-Tech Interface
Convert function controls into an interior, minimal, shy-tech interface
Convert function controls into an interior, minimal, shy-tech interface
Alive Exterior
The exterior module, 'Alive Gallery', was treated as a interactive surface — semi-matte and unassuming when idle. Only through presence detection or interaction, and/or gesture opening, does the surface begin to animate with breathing light effect. The embedded mirror elements within the CMF reflect the spatial tone and color assisting the surface in better blending into the home environment.
The exterior module, 'Alive Gallery', was treated as a interactive surface — semi-matte and unassuming when idle. Only through presence detection or interaction, and/or gesture opening, does the surface begin to animate with breathing light effect. The embedded mirror elements within the CMF reflect the spatial tone and color assisting the surface in better blending into the home environment.
CMFP Interactivity
We defined a CMF system that communicates product states through specific lighting, reflection, and material layering. I led experiments to develop a dual-channel expression system: one application for VUI expression, and another for'Alive' expression..
This allowed us to express both AI engagement and the passive 'Alive' system and states without using a screen — treating CMF not as styling, but as a core part of the interaction system.
We defined a CMF system that communicates product states through specific lighting, reflection, and material layering. I led experiments to develop a dual-channel expression system: one application for VUI expression, and another for'Alive' expression..
This allowed us to express both AI engagement and the passive 'Alive' system and states without using a screen — treating CMF not as styling, but as a core part of the interaction system.
Interior Architecture
'Island' Staged Platform
The Island Shelf acts as a ceremonial staging zone — elevated, floating, and directly lit to suggest focus and intent. Objects placed here are visually prioritized, creating a feeling of occasion. Mechanical refinements ensure a seamless physical experience, reinforcing the shelf’s role as both a spatial anchor and an new interior emotional touchpoint.
The Island Shelf acts as a ceremonial staging zone — elevated, floating, and directly lit to suggest focus and intent. Objects placed here are visually prioritized, creating a feeling of occasion. Mechanical refinements ensure a seamless physical experience, reinforcing the shelf’s role as both a spatial anchor and an new interior emotional touchpoint.
Lighting Behavior
Upon opening, the refrigerator’s interior lighting initially matches the intensity and color temperature of the surrounding environment, both creating a soft transition and establishing a relationship from exterior to interior. The light then gradually shifts to a neutral tone optimized for usability, enhancing visibility without abrupt contrast.
This behavior reinforces an emotional continuity between space and product, reducing visual fatigue and signaling premium attentiveness. Light in this system is not feedback — it’s spatial logic.
Upon opening, the refrigerator’s interior lighting initially matches the intensity and color temperature of the surrounding environment, both creating a soft transition and establishing a relationship from exterior to interior. The light then gradually shifts to a neutral tone optimized for usability, enhancing visibility without abrupt contrast.
This behavior reinforces an emotional continuity between space and product, reducing visual fatigue and signaling premium attentiveness. Light in this system is not feedback — it’s spatial logic.
Embedded Interface
Please visit the full project for broader context of the design outcome, process, and goals.
Please visit the full project for broader context of the design outcome, process, and goals.
'Alive Gallery'
A personal 'gallery' of high-value or ritually significant items stored on the interior balconies is selectively highlighted by the interior lighting system. These moments are triggered either through preset times or learned behavioral patterns, creating a soft reveal that is visible from both inside and outside the appliance.
The effect transforms storage into ritual display — reinforcing presence, memory, and meaning through light and timing.
A personal 'gallery' of high-value or ritually significant items stored on the interior balconies is selectively highlighted by the interior lighting system. These moments are triggered either through preset times or learned behavioral patterns, creating a soft reveal that is visible from both inside and outside the appliance.
The effect transforms storage into ritual display — reinforcing presence, memory, and meaning through light and timing.
'Alive' Auto Open
We developed a new touchless auto-open system using embedded proximity sensors in the handle cavity—responsive to hands, feet, or elbows—designed for bulk loading scenarios.
To prevent false triggers, the system includes logic to distinguish intentional open gestures from casual presence, combining sensor range and timing filters.
The exterior is treated as a sculptural surface, not a contact point—making each opening feel intentional and ceremonial.
We developed a new touchless auto-open system using embedded proximity sensors in the handle cavity—responsive to hands, feet, or elbows—designed for bulk loading scenarios.
To prevent false triggers, the system includes logic to distinguish intentional open gestures from casual presence, combining sensor range and timing filters.
The exterior is treated as a sculptural surface, not a contact point—making each opening feel intentional and ceremonial.
'Light Fluidity' CMFP
Status
I collaborated closely with the development HWE + SWE team to guide the project from early prototyping through to tool planning—addressing technical constraints, reviewing with suppliers, and shaping key design decisions as we progressed toward PP and a target launch at AWE 2026.
The Alive Gallery, Interactive CMF, and Island Shelf systems are currently patent pending.
I collaborated closely with the development HWE + SWE team to guide the project from early prototyping through to tool planning—addressing technical constraints, reviewing with suppliers, and shaping key design decisions as we progressed toward PP and a target launch at AWE 2026.
The Alive Gallery, Interactive CMF, and Island Shelf systems are currently patent pending.
Full case studies avaliable upon request
Full case studies avaliable upon request
Full case studies avaliable upon request
Full case studies avaliable upon request
Full case studies avaliable upon request
Full case studies avaliable upon request