Piatto Smart Tumbler
Designing a Smarter and Simpler Sip
Piatto is an innovative smart thermal tumbler designed to maintain beverages at the user's preferred temperature, whether warm or cool. This cutting-edge product combines sleek design with advanced technology, offering a personalized drinking experience. The Piatto system includes not only the tumbler itself but also a companion app that allows users to set and control their desired beverage temperature with ease.
Piatto is a smart thermal tumbler and companion app designed to deliver the perfect drink, every time.
The project launched with a timeless logo, user-friendly app, and premium packaging, establishing itself as a leader in the smart drinkware category.
Worked with two other designers as UX/UI designer for the mobile app and brand identity, collaborating closely with industrial designers, researchers, engineers to unify physical and digital touchpoints.
Initial Findings
A Promising Category Still Finding Its Footing
The emerging smart drinkware market was filled with products that had poor usability, confusing apps, and uninspired design. Users wanted something sleek, functional, and reliable to keep drinks just right without constant reheating or guesswork.
Brand and Experience Gaps Across Touchpoints
Competitor products lacked consistent branding and left users underwhelmed. There was a clear opportunity to create a smarter, more delightful experience from unboxing to daily use.
How Might We
Create a thermal tumbler that bridges the wants of gourmet coffee drinkers and the needs of people on the go?
Deliver consistent temperature and a delightful, easy-to-use interface?
Design a seamless experience that communicates trust, ease, and joy across hardware and app?
What We Had to Solve
Set a New Standard for Smart Drinkware
The goal was to build a best-in-class thermal tumbler and companion app that worked for everyone. We aimed for performance, ease of use, and aesthetic appeal across all touchpoints.
Build a Cohesive Product and Brand Ecosystem
Our task included defining a visual identity, packaging system, and digital interface that worked in harmony. Each interaction needed to feel distinctly Piatto: warm, modern, and premium.
Balance Innovation with Simplicity
The challenge was to integrate advanced temperature control and app connectivity without intimidating non-tech-savvy users. We had to keep the experience elegant and intuitive, even under the hood.
How We Tackled It
01
Listening to Coffee Lovers Everywhere
We interviewed a wide range of coffee and tea drinkers, uncovering daily frustrations like reheating, guessing temperatures, and short battery life. Insights were synthesized into four personas; each reflecting distinct lifestyles and pain points.
02
Mapping Real-Life Use Cases
We followed each persona’s journey from unboxing to daily use.This helped us design for real scenarios, like early-morning commutes, post-workout cooldowns, and study marathons.
03
Creating a Look that Feels Like a Sip
Moodboards explored tactile materials, soft color palettes, and forms that felt premium yet approachable. Our chosen direction blended kitchenware warmth with sleek tech, creating a brand that felt instantly familiar and fresh.
04
Building the Visual Identity
We developed a timeless logo, clean color system, and playful but elegant packaging. This gave the product shelf presence and visual consistency from box to app.
05
Designing the Companion App
We focused the app experience around a temperature dial, real-time status, and simple device pairing. Screens were minimal, bold, and easy to use; ideal for busy hands and sleepy mornings.
06
Prototyping and Refining with Speed
Low-fidelity wireframes allowed us to test layout and functionality early. User feedback helped shape clear flows, notifications, and features that felt instantly usable.
The Outcome
Smart Drinkware
in Smart Sipping
Product + App Integration
What I Learned
UX is More Than Interface, It's Ecosystem
This project showed me how critical it is to sync physical product design with digital UX. A seamless experience isn't about perfection at every point, it's about harmony across the whole system.
Research Builds Relevance
The time spent developing personas and journey maps paid off throughout the project. Design grounded in real needs always leads to more resonant outcomes.
Emotional Design Matters
A tumbler is more than a utility, it's a ritual. Infusing joy, warmth, and personality helped elevate the experience beyond features.
