Wilfa iwind
Recognition
Description
In this diploma thesis I have designed a new indoor unit for the Nordic air-to-air heat pump market. This is done by questioning what a heat pump can be in the home, and by showing how new technology can unlock new design possibilities. Focusing on technology and aesthetics, the project challenges and creates discussions in the industry, and demonstrates how design can contribute to new, innovative solutions.
Project by Elias Rølvåg Horsgård
CONTEXT
The heat pump technology has been on the market for roughly a century, but despite advancements in later products, minimal progression has been made in terms of aesthetics and technology over the last decades. This affects its performance in Nordic climates and is resulting in an ugly addition to the living room.
GOAL
Rethink and design an aesthetically improved heat pump's indoor unit based on exploration of new technologies that better fits into Nordic homes and Wilfa’s DNA.
RESULT
The result is the Wilfa iWind heat pump. Featuring a new, innovative ionic fan, it measures only a fraction of the thickness of a traditional heat pump. The consequence is an indoor unit that fits better on living room walls and that blends with the interior. For added freedom and flexibility, the orientation of which the heat pump is mounted can be both vertical and horizontal. This works due to its symmetric design and new internal structure.
Working with Wilfa has added valuable insights, resources and credibility to the project and given me a chance to showcase my design to the industry.
The product:
IONIC FAN
The heat pump is designed around a new ionic fan that I developed to fit in home appliances. This fan uses the principle of ionic wind to move air without needing any moving parts. This reduces vibrations, wear and noise. In addition, it allows the product to be 59% slimmer than traditional heat pumps, making it fit better on the wall.
The ionic fan works by applying a high voltage to a set of electrodes at a set distance apart from each other. As the current runs between the two electrodes, it pushed neutral air molecules along the way, resulting in an ionic wind behind the two electrodes. The performance of this new fan matches the traditional fans.
In addition, the shape of the ionic fan is not restricted, and its shape can vary, making it highly versatile for different applications.
Ionic fan concept sketch.
Internal structure and air flow.
AESTHETICS
Based on user insights gathered, the design of the Wilfa iWind is slim, discreet and flexible on multiple levels. Its symmetry allows for multiple placement and orientation options to make it suitable for the users' individual needs. This also adds room for personal preference.
Vertical orientation.
Horizontal orientation.
In addition, the front cover of the heat pump is sold separately with different pattern designs for further customization options. At first purchase, color can also be chosen from a selected palette of M4 Factory's bioplastic materials.
Material, color & pattern design options.
(White Cotton: cotton fibers + PLA (left), Beige: Flax Seed: Flax seeds + PLA, Black Coconut: coconut fibers + Polypropelene, Green Hemp: hemp fibers + PLA (right)).
CHANGING FILTERS
For easy maintenance, the from cover can be take off and the filters easily slid out on both sides.
Changing filters.
The Process:
Before starting the project, I had to find, define and organize the project. I decided to contact Wilfa who came onboard as an external collaborator, partner and supervisor to make the project more realistic. We had continuous meetings and conversations throughout the project.
I approached the project with the double diamond method, and have used a variety of other design methods and tools throughout the process.
INSIGHTS & RESEARCH
Market research, mapping and user insights were important to establish that there was indeed a viable and credible market for the product. Among other things, I attended the Norwegian Heat Pump Conference 2024 and conducted online surveys. My findings were that there was a market gap for aesthetically improved and well-designed products, and that the market was predicted to remain a strong market over the following years.
Market mapping.
Heat Pump Conference 2024.
To better understand how a heat pump work, I visited Tamek AS, a heat pump service center and conducted expert interviews. I was also provided an indoor unit I could disassemble play around with before researching new technologies. Here I learned that the indoor unit is constricted by and design around the fan, and that the fan is the component most likely to fail. The fan is also the main noise emitter. All of this was leading me to looking into better fan solutions.
At Tamek AS - Heat pump service center.
Disassembled Wilfa Narvik V2 heat pump.
Before starting the ideation, I also defined Wilfa's shape language, and their DNA elements to implement in the product.
Wilfa's shape language.
IDEATION
Sketching on different levels has been a big part of the ideation process, all the way from small thumbnails and morphological charts to concept sketches:
Selected thumbnails.
Morphological chart.
Eskild Tjalve - method.
Core element - Adaptability.
Core element - Technology.
Core element - Wilfa DNA.
Concept 1.
Concept 2.
Concept 3.
Final concept.
DEVELOPMENT
During development, more and more physical model building became part of the process, before diving into CAD. Starting at mockups, moving through white models, and finishing the project with a visual model. This was important for testing and iterations along the way.
I defined 7 main elements of the heat pump that I tackled systematically, before presenting the final design suggestion to the world.
I made several mockups for testing and discussing dimensions and proportions, and edges and endings of the main shape.
Discussions with fellow designers.
Mockup making.
I made a modular white model to better visualize how different pattern designs would fit together on the sides and front of the heat pump. As the air inlets on the sides have a different function from the air outlets from the front, so they have different pattern designs. Having a neutral pattern on the sides also gives visual room for a variety of bolder pattern designs on the front.
Different pattern designs.
Selected main pattern designs.
As the deadline was closing in, I made a visual model of the final design of the Wilfa iWind. This was good for visualization, discussions, exhibiting, presenting, convincing and selling.
Physical model - 3D printed frame.
Physical model - CNC milled front cover.
Wilfa iWind visual model.
Wilfa iWind visual model.
As a validation and reflection method, I conducted another user survey to see what they think about the new heat pump. The conclusion was positive as 69% thinks the Wilfa iWind fits best in the living room compared to the competition, and 76% would consider buying the Wilfa iWind.
