How can professional launderettes and drycleaners look in the future? That was the mission of 26 students at a recent hackathon hosted by The Research Hub by Electrolux Professional at the HSB Living Lab in Sweden.
Electrolux arranged a 24-hour sprint to prototype new ways users could use washing machines and tumble dryers in a professional laundry. The challenge was set out to 26 student participants from six different countries in a recent so called “Designathon” held at the HSB Living Lab at Chalmers University in Gothenburg, Sweden. The initiative is a unique 10-year research project in which research is done in collaboration between academia, industry and local government.
“As the interaction between users and equipment is becoming central to current and future product development, we wanted to see how users of tomorrow would like to interact with our machines, with fresh eyes and open minds,” says Silvana Johansson, Head of Category Business Unit Laundry.
“The proposals suggested ways of interaction with a focus on ergonomics, usability and sustainability, which are completely in line with our values,” says Johansson.
The jury selected three winners based on the environmental and customer value of their idea; the creativity and ease of implementation of the idea; and the level of concretization of the prototype.
About the HSB Living Lab
Electrolux Professional has equipped the ‘Future Laundry’ studio at HSB Living Lab with drying cabinets, tumble dryers, front load washers and base kit pumps with automatic dosing systems. This project is part of The Research Hub by Electrolux Professional, an initiative which focuses on enhancing innovation and research in collaboration with academia and external research centers.
