Alternative Milk System
2020
The project began with an in-depth, in-home research phase with potential and extreme users. To develop deeper empathy, my family and I spent the duration of the project making plant-based milk at home. My design strategy drew inspiration from how people thought about waste, quality, convenience, and consumption habits.
My concept development and physical prototyping guided key decisions around form, usability, food science and internal architecture. I created a clear design language for the product and aligned it with the emerging brand. The final bottle design could go straight to production, would fit in the fridge and in the hand, and allowed users to make milk in a portion that matched their consumption habits. Milli launched in 2022.
ID + Food Science + Product Design
Both food science and taste played a major role in the design and development of this appliance. I worked with Milli during a dedicated engineering and food science phase to produce plant-based milks using a range of in-house methods and prototypes. This work included evaluation of grind size and extraction techniques as well as detailed mechanical and electrical details to create a functioning appliance prototype.
Mechanical Design
Experience Design
The user experience, industrial design, interaction design, and mechanical engineering architecture were all developed in parallel. This holistic approach meant the design was aligned with the way we consume and store milk, the way we think about waste, and could be launched at scale without modification.