Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG
Interview with Michael Meyer, Waldemar Kunz

Red Dot: What was the starting point for the development of the Kärcher HMI module?

The groundbreaking idea behind our HMI module was to establish a uniform and seamless operating logic for all our appliances and devices. That frees us up from having to keep reinventing and reimplementing designs while providing our customers with an intuitive and consistent user experience across our entire product range. The strategic implementation of this re-usable module furthermore promises significant synergies and cost savings for future development projects.

What role do smart functions generally play in the domestic cleaning device sector?

Smart functions are becoming progressively more important in this area. They help our users to save time and energy, to work more safely and achieve optimal cleaning results. That is why we are increasingly integrating smart assistance functions into our products which use sensors and AI, for example to identify work patterns and suggest optimisation opportunities via the HMI.

When you venture to look into the future – what design trends and developments do you foresee in your sector?

There is a clear trend towards “emotional silence”. Products are increasingly being given a calmer aesthetic while functions are becoming more of a focus. Usability is very clearly key. At the same time, the use of smart assistance and automation for cleaning tasks in the domestic area is growing. In the long term, sustainability will become our core design objective – products should be meaningful, durable, repairable, resource-efficient and recyclable.