Kettle (compact)
A compact, two-cup kettle designed for Breville: minimal, efficient, and perfectly suited for small spaces.
A compact, two-cup kettle designed for Breville: minimal, efficient, and perfectly suited for small spaces.
STUDENT WORK
85 - HD
PROJECT TIMELINE
Feb - Apr 2025
KEY SKILLS
User research & needs analysis
User research & needs analysis
Ergonomic testing & affordance design
Ergonomic testing & affordance design
Rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping
CAD modelling & product visualisation
CAD modelling & product visualisation
Materials engineering
Materials engineering
Electronics understanding
Electronics understanding
PROBLEM
Modern electric kettles are large, cluttered, and often overcomplicated—yet most users just want hot water at the press of a button. Current designs are not suited to small households, single users, and people with limited counter space.
Modern electric kettles are large, cluttered, and often overcomplicated—yet most users just want hot water at the press of a button. Current designs are not suited to small households, single users, and people with limited counter space.
SOLUTION
The Kettle (compact) is a tight, handle-less kettle with a two-cup (750ml) capacity and a circular footprint of just 100mm. Its double-walled stainless steel body keeps the exterior cool, while a textured powder-coated surface provides grip and comfort. A single-button interface makes boiling effortless, while its form fits seamlessly into Breville’s design language.
The Kettle (compact) is a tight, handle-less kettle with a two-cup (750ml) capacity and a circular footprint of just 100mm. Its double-walled stainless steel body keeps the exterior cool, while a textured powder-coated surface provides grip and comfort. A single-button interface makes boiling effortless, while its form fits seamlessly into Breville’s design language.
PROCESS
The project began with research into Breville’s brand identity and the Australian kettle market. Breville’s design language—clean lines, stainless steel finishes, and refined details—set the aesthetic framework. Primary research included user observations, interviews, surveys, and store visits. Insights revealed that most people want hot water at the press of a button, instead of feature-rich, complex kettles. Standard 1.7 litre kettles are inefficient for single users, and can be awkward and heavy when overfilled.
From these findings, I created a constrained brief: compact, efficient, simple, and true to Breville. Early models explored ultra-small capacities and a handle-free form, but testing showed limits in practicality. Cardboard and foam prototypes refined the kettle’s body shape, grip, and capacity, drawing inspiration from water bottles for ergonomic comfort.
The final Breville Kettle (compact) balances compact form and intuitive use with Breville’s design language, offering a two-cup, one-button kettle that fits seamlessly into small kitchens.
The project began with research into Breville’s brand identity and the Australian kettle market. Breville’s design language—clean lines, stainless steel finishes, and refined details—set the aesthetic framework. Primary research included user observations, interviews, surveys, and store visits. Insights revealed that most people want hot water at the press of a button, instead of feature-rich, complex kettles. Standard 1.7 litre kettles are inefficient for single users, and can be awkward and heavy when overfilled.
From these findings, I created a constrained brief: compact, efficient, simple, and true to Breville. Early models explored ultra-small capacities and a handle-free form, but testing showed limits in practicality. Cardboard and foam prototypes refined the kettle’s body shape, grip, and capacity, drawing inspiration from water bottles for ergonomic comfort.
The final Breville Kettle (compact) balances compact form and intuitive use with Breville’s design language, offering a two-cup, one-button kettle that fits seamlessly into small kitchens.