Term paper on Product Market

Proposed design improvements

The possibilities of design improvements for the considered mixer are numerous, first of all due to its design and availability of accessory hub, and secondly, due to the variety of household routine jobs which can be automated using electric power of the mixer. The design of the new accessories should match the original concept of “humaneering” and be as sleek and elegant as the whole model is. “Whatever you may be – mechanic, inventor or an engineer – if you create a product which you hope to sell, and want to insure its acceptance to the public, make sure its various parts are organized into a trim, sleek, streamlined shape – for in addition to lowering wind-resistance, streamlining also lowers eye-resistance” (Lidwell & Manasca, 2009).

It is possible to suggest several accessories which can be used to extend the number of cooking activities automated by this powerful machine. First of all, mixing is often related to food grinding, especially grinding of vegetables, fruit and meat. Fig. 3 shows the example of a grinder accessory which can be attached to the hub.

Figure 3. Accessory for grinding

Mixing activities often include operations with juices and/or blended vegetables. The stand mixer can perform functions similar to a blender if an accessory for juicing is attached. Figure 4 shows the supposed appearance of an accessory for juicing citrus fruit. For vegetables and other fruit (without much pulp) a sleek extension or capping can be used.

Figure 4. Accessory for juicing

The processes of grinding and making juice generally involve processing a lot of ingredients and it may be not convenient to place them into the narrow “throat” of the mixer. It can be recommended to add a tray for placing a lot of food, as it is shown on Fig. 5.

Figure 5. Accessory for placing more ingredients (tray)

These accessories can also be sold together as a package since they complement the functionality of each other. Overall, the stand mixer like the KitchenAid model considered in this paper provides plenty of space for adding new features and functionality. The choice of the mixer is greatly conditioned by its functionality and design, and although the functionality of stand mixers has partly been replaced by blenders and food processors, the applications and future extensions of a reliable mixing device are rather wide, as it was shown on the example of a typical stand mixer.