July 17, 2025Calm yet Resonant: Subtle Power in Design
Bespoke AI Washer/Dryer Design Story
Simplicity in design is deceptively complex. Removing even a single line requires torrents of ideas, bold experimentation, and extreme deliberation. The Bespoke AI Washer and Dryer distills the laundry experience to its essence with a clean and minimal design. Discover the story of its back-to-basics creation through interviews with the designers.
Content images simulated for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the actual product. Product specification may vary by country, region, model, and carrier.
Jinsun Park
Product Designer, Design Team of Digital Appliances Business
Euikyun Koh
Product Designer, Design Team of Digital Appliances Business
Jiheon Song
Product Designer, Design Team of Digital Appliances Business
The look of the Bespoke AI Washer and Dryer has significantly changed. What prompted this redesign?
A new design language became necessary as the 7-inch display was applied across diverse form factors, including standalone washers, dryers, laundry hub units and combo units. For a long time, washers and dryers have faithfully served their functional roles in kitchens and utility rooms. In those spaces, durability and practicality have traditionally taken precedence over visual harmony. This time, the focus was on creating a sleek exterior that blends in beautifully with the home’s interior, just like a piece of furniture.
* This image has been created by generative AI (ComfyUI, MagnificAI, Midjourney).
When you see the finished product, it looks far neater and more refined this time around.
Unlike earlier models with a visible separation between the top and bottom, this design is characterized by a seamless body. On closer inspection, it’s also been simplified with a push/pull mechanism replacing traditional handles on the washer detergent drawer and the dryer water tank. The physical buttons have also been replaced by the 7-inch touch display, enhancing the clean look overall.
The design changes are especially noticeable from the side.
To create a slimmer, more refined impression that blends into the space like furniture, the front panel is finished to match the thickness of typical furniture panels. There’s also an additional part where the front meets the side. In contrast to previous models where the front and sides were uniform in color, this design is black all over except for the distinct front panel, an intentional design decision to improve manufacturing efficiency.
The design changes are especially noticeable from the side.
To create a slimmer, more refined impression that blends into the space like furniture, the front panel is finished to match the thickness of typical furniture panels. There’s also an additional part where the front meets the side. In contrast to previous models where the front and sides were uniform in color, this design is black all over except for the distinct front panel, an intentional design decision to improve manufacturing efficiency.
Were there any challenges in applying a consistent design across different form factors?
Since laundry hub units are stacked, their design requirements differ from standalone washers, dryers, or combo units. The central control part houses the display, dryer heat exchanger, and more – and it's now designed to detach and reattach securely for enhanced user convenience. Because this section directly affects how users interact with the product, we put great care into positioning it in the most intuitive and accessible way possible. Aligning these components may seem simple, but it demands precise calculations and finite adjustments, all while considering the overall product structure.
* This image has been created by generative AI (ComfyUI, MagnificAI, Midjourney).
It must have been a challenge to change the existing structure and UX. How did you approach it?
One of the biggest challenges was implementing the push/pull system to eliminate the handles, especially since the washer detergent drawer and dryer water tank weigh different amounts. It felt necessary to remove them though to achieve balance with the newly added 7-inch display. Also, in terms of usability, the push/pull system is much easier and more comfortable than using handles.
After endless research and testing, we finalized a push/pull system that works for both the washer and dryer. We see this as a shared achievement with the development team, who deeply resonated with our vision and collaborated with great commitment.
Adding a display seems to have transformed the way people use the product. What changed most?
The display allows users to communicate directly with the product, enhancing usability and expanding the overall interaction experience. For example, Bespoke AI can recommend optimized wash cycles through the display, and users can manage all devices connected to SmartThings directly from the washer or dryer.
What’s the most challenging part of designing home appliances?
Since the product is motor-powered, its design must take into account mechanical dynamics and the underlying hardware structure. For example, in cases when a standalone washer and dryer are installed side by side, they would be much easier to use if the doors were raised higher. But that’s not just a simple design change. It would require a complete redesign of the hardware and calls for much broader innovation. Even the smallest of changes can lead to countless variables and challenges. That makes things tough at times but also incredibly rewarding and enjoyable.
What kind of designer do you aspire to be?
Home appliances take care of tasks we don’t enjoy, like cleaning and laundry. They have a huge impact on our daily lives. That’s why we want to design products that are easy and comfortable to use, based on a deep understanding of and empathy for the user. If someone becomes attached to a product we designed and enjoys using it, that would be the greatest reward for us.
