Interview with Youseob Kim
YONWOO
Red Dot: The Panasonic Alpha Set has an innovative, magnetic LCD control panel. What advantages does it offer and how challenging was it to develop?
The magnetic Alpha rotary knob, which serves as the control centre for the appliance set, offers several advantages. The standardisation of control interfaces not only reduces appearance; it also enables convenient remote operation. In terms of sustainability, this solution minimises the number of control components required per appliance. More importantly, the rotary knob will be compatible with other future Panasonic products, such as air conditioners, lighting fixtures and kitchen appliances. It paves the way for the development of a smart connected ecosystem. We overcame many technical challenges in the development process, including the magnetic function, wireless charging and NFC recognition.
What inspired you to give the appliances a futuristic look?
The look is primarily inspired by modern living spaces. We particularly focused on reduction to facilitate flush integration into cabinetry and walls, and we achieved a ground-breaking 3 mm edge curvature radius. We took production capabilities to the limits to ensure perfect harmony between the product and the space it occupies.
Are household appliance aesthetics becoming increasingly important?
With its distinctive and elegant design, the Alpha series is viewed as the “most aesthetic washing machine” by many Chinese consumers. In today’s market, where household appliance functionality is a matter of course, product aesthetics are becoming a decisive criterion in consumer choices.
