KitchenAid Burr Grinder

My Role: Lead Designer / Aesthetic Definition and Storytelling

Production Design: ZhaoYi Yin

Status: Launched in 2020

The new KitchenAid Burr Grinder is a mass market reinterpretation of the iconic Professional kitchenAid Burr Grinder. The goal of this project was to create a new Burr Grinder platform that would retain the important branding elements of the original burr grinder without cannibalizing its look. As the lead designer on the project I wanted to achieve a perfect balance between paying homage to KA's heritage and proving a new story our consumers could fall in love with at a lower price point.

I began by focusing on the user and the special details that would differentiate the new platform from the current grinder and create an emotional connection with the user. To that end I envisioned a handle on the ground jar that would make removing the jar easier and a small wooden scoop that would rest in the back on the unit. Only the handle made it to the final design but the story of creating an emotional connection with the user remained a strong guiding principle throughout the project.

The final product is a burr grinder that is oriented on blending seamlessly into the user's routine through superior design, performance, craftsmanship and color selection. This new grinder is as compact as the original and takes the guesswork out of dosing and adjusting grind time to deliver the proper volume and consistency of grounds every time.