Making the home smarter, simpler, and more human

Human Centered Appliance Design and Development Firm

powered by Psycho-Aesthetics®.

Flowater Refilling Station

FloWater’s sleek refill stations have replaced over 1.1 billion single-use plastic bottles.

With advanced 7-stage purification, sleek design, and touchless dispensing, it delivers premium water that’s better for people and the planet.

Zyliss Kitchenware

Zyliss kitchenware is highly rated and widely recognized for its ergonomic and innovative design.

RKS partnered with Zyliss to guide the brand’s look, feel, and strategic direction, honoring its global identity of “Smart. Simple. Swiss.”

The Elevate Grill

The Elevate Grill, the largest, most portable gas grill in the world.

Our grill design combines high-powered gas grilling in a simple, easy-to-carry, easy-to-clean, and easy-to-store package—no assembly is required.

Designing with Research, Insight & Strategy

Research and strategy are the foundation of everything we create. we observe, listen, and analyze to uncover how people truly interact with their appliances in everyday life.

In-Home Ethnographic Research
We conduct in-home ethnographic research to observe how people use appliances in their natural environment. By watching real behaviors in kitchens, laundry rooms, and living spaces, we uncover pain points and habits that typical surveys miss. This immersive approach allows us to design home appliances that match real-life workflows, improving ease of use and everyday satisfaction.
Consumer Journey Mapping
User journey mapping helps us visualize how consumers interact with a product from unboxing to daily operation and maintenance. We identify critical touchpoints where design can reduce friction, build trust, and create delight. By mapping the appliance experience from start to finish, we create user-centered designs that are intuitive and long-lasting.
Needs and Pain Point Analysis
Our research identifies unmet consumer needs and pain points within current home appliance solutions. Through interviews, diary studies, and behavior analysis, we reveal where users feel frustrated or underserved. These insights power innovative appliance design solutions that provide meaningful, everyday improvements.
Market Trend Studies
We study market trends and analyze the competitive landscape to find white space opportunities. By understanding what’s succeeding, what’s failing, and what’s next in home appliance innovation, we ensure our product strategies are forward-thinking and relevant. This gives our clients a competitive edge in both product performance and brand perception.
Persona Development
We develop detailed consumer personas and market segmentation profiles to ensure that our designs serve the right audience. Each appliance is crafted with a deep understanding of user lifestyle, preferences, and expectations. This strategic targeting improves product-market fit and increases the likelihood of consumer adoption.
Product Positioning Strategy
Our strategic design approach includes clear product positioning and roadmap development. We align business goals with user needs to define where the product fits in the market, how it should be priced, and what makes it stand out. This ensures the home appliance design supports both brand growth and long-term market success.

Where Design Meets Engineering

We balance durability, cost, usability, and aesthetic impact from concept to production.

Industrial Design Firm Zyliss product image

Industrial Design

Our industrial design team creates visually compelling, ergonomically smart appliances that feel natural in the home. We blend aesthetics with usability to ensure each product enhances daily routines and reflects brand identity. Whether it’s a countertop gadget or a built-in appliance, we shape every curve and interface with purpose.

Engineer working with dual 3D printers in lab surrounded by concept printouts and shelving

Design for Manufacturing

We engineer appliances to meet the highest standards of performance, safety, and manufacturability. Our design engineers collaborate closely with industrial designers to ensure every feature is functional, cost-effective, and ready for production. We also conduct detailed verification testing to meet regulatory and industry benchmarks.

Innovation Strategy

Technology Roadmap

We helps clients build a long-term technology roadmap to guide innovation. We assess technical feasibility, integration needs, and emerging trends to ensure each appliance aligns with evolving consumer expectations. This strategic planning keeps our partners ahead of the curve in a competitive market.

A young boy sits at a table, intensely focused on playing a video game on his handheld console. Home appliances can be seen in the background, while glasses rest on the table and perforated black chairs surround him.

Proof of Concept & Beta Prototyping

We rapidly develop proof-of-concept models and beta prototypes to validate ideas early and often. This iterative process lets us test functionality, refine design features, and collect user feedback — ensuring the final home appliance is user-friendly and commercially viable.

Technical engineering drawing featuring multiple detailed sections, dimensions, and labeled views of a home appliances mechanical component, including cross-sections, side views, and notes in black lines on a white background.

Intellectual Property Support

We design with innovation and protection in mind. Our team supports patent strategy by identifying unique, defensible features early in the design process. We work closely with legal partners to document, visualize, and protect design IP, helping clients build strong patent portfolios around their home appliance innovations.

Futuristic healthcare technology showcasing RKS Design’s 2025 medical technology trends

Future Concept Development

We explore what’s next in the home appliance space. From AI-enabled functionality to sustainable materials and modularity, we design future-forward concepts that inspire product roadmaps. Our vision work helps brands imagine — and realize — the next generation of consumer appliances.

Singular Genomics Consumable sketches

Industrial Design

Our industrial design team creates visually compelling, ergonomically smart appliances that feel natural in the home. We blend aesthetics with usability to ensure each product enhances daily routines and reflects brand identity. Whether it’s a countertop gadget or a built-in appliance, we shape every curve and interface with purpose.

A close-up of a persons hand inserting an ink cartridge into a printer, essential for preparing important documents in the Life Science market.

Proof of Concept & Beta Prototyping

We engineer appliances to meet the highest standards of performance, safety, and manufacturability. Our design engineers collaborate closely with industrial designers to ensure every feature is functional, cost-effective, and ready for production. We also conduct detailed verification testing to meet regulatory and industry benchmarks.

A man stands by a whiteboard covered with sheets of paper, each featuring sketches of various life science gadget or device designs. Some papers have green sticky notes attached. The man is holding additional papers.

Intellectual Property Support

We design with innovation and protection in mind. Our team supports patent strategy by identifying unique, defensible features early in the design process. We work closely with legal partners to document, visualize, and protect design IP, helping clients build strong patent portfolios around their home appliance innovations.

QuantumSi prototype on desktop, comparing old design to new design

Engineering and Verification

We engineer appliances to meet the highest standards of performance, safety, and manufacturability. Our design engineers collaborate closely with industrial designers to ensure every feature is functional, cost-effective, and ready for production. We also conduct detailed verification testing to meet regulatory and industry benchmarks.

Team gathered around a conference table presenting stakeholder pitch materials

Technology Roadmap

We helps clients build a long-term technology roadmap to guide innovation. We assess technical feasibility, integration needs, and emerging trends to ensure each appliance aligns with evolving consumer expectations. This strategic planning keeps our partners ahead of the curve in a competitive market.

A compact, black desktop device with a touchscreen display showing a timer and progress circle, ideal for the Life Science Market. The screen is bordered by a purple LED light and rests on a white surface.

Future Concept Development

We explore what’s next in the home appliance space. From AI-enabled functionality to sustainable materials and modularity, we design future-forward concepts that inspire product roadmaps. Our vision work helps brands imagine — and realize — the next generation of consumer appliances.

UI/UX & Brand Integration

Our UI/UX and branding team ensures that every screen, sound, and interaction reinforces the brand while making the product simple, intuitive, and enjoyable to use.

Seamless Physical-Digital Experience

We design cohesive experiences across physical controls, touchscreen interfaces, and mobile apps. Every button press, haptic response, and digital cue is considered to ensure that the physical and digital aspects of your appliance work together intuitively.

Visual Brand Language

We define a clear and ownable Visual Brand Language that unifies form, interface, and user touchpoints across your product line. From handle design to iconography and lighting behavior, we translate your brand into tangible, recognizable details that reinforce identity and create family consistency.

Interface Design & Microinteractions

We design modern, responsive interfaces for embedded screens and companion apps. Every microinteraction — from a loading animation to a haptic pulse — is carefully crafted to enhance feedback, build user confidence, and elevate perceived quality. This level of polish helps your appliance stand out in a crowded market.

Information Architecture & User Flow

We build user flows and interface structures that simplify complex functionality. Whether it’s setting a timer, switching modes, or accessing diagnostics, our UI/UX team ensures tasks are intuitive and efficient. Fewer taps, clearer hierarchies, and smarter defaults reduce frustration and increase satisfaction.

Reimagining how we live at home? Let’s build the future together.

We specialize in designing a wide range of home appliances—from countertop products like blenders and coffee makers to large appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, and air purifiers. Our work spans both smart and analog devices, always focusing on function, form, and market appeal.
We begin every project with deep user research, competitive benchmarking, and trend analysis. By uncovering unmet consumer needs and aligning with your brand vision, we design appliances that are not only beautiful and functional but also emotionally resonant and strategically positioned.
Absolutely. We have deep experience in developing interfaces, apps, and connected systems for home appliances. From IoT integration to mobile app UI/UX, we design seamless digital experiences that enhance functionality and build long-term customer loyalty.
Yes. We offer end-to-end product development including industrial design, mechanical engineering, proof-of-concept builds, DFM (Design for Manufacturing), and beta prototyping. Our integrated team ensures your appliance is both elegant and production-ready.
We collaborate with legal teams and provide documentation to support intellectual property filings. From design patents to utility innovations, we help you identify and protect IP that differentiates your product in the marketplace.

You have signed up for the designer!

Welcome to a world of design and innovation

Your download has started!

If this is not the case, then click the button below to start it