In an increasingly saturated market, differentiation demands more than aesthetics - it calls for intent and precision. The brief was to design an indoor air conditioning unit that not only stands apart but elevates interaction through the seamless integration of articulating fascia movement.
Zen is crafted to integrate effortlessly into contemporary interiors. Drawing inspiration from fluted glass elements often seen in architectural panels, luxury lighting, and fine glassware, its refined finish complements both residential and commercial spaces. When turned off, the sliding fascia lends the product a discreet and elegant presence. Upon activation, the fascia gracefully slides upward to reveal the display, while ambient lighting begins to glow—creating a captivating, multisensory user experience.
Industrial Design
Design strategy
Visualisation
CMF Lead | Shruti Singh
SCENARIO AND STRATEGY PLANNING
OPPORTUNITY
Turn airflow mechanics into a dynamic, expressive feature instead of hiding it
SOLUTION
The solution was to integrate dual louvers without increasing the overall size of the air conditioner. This was achieved through the introduction of a sliding fascia mechanism, in which the fascia moves upward to activate both louvers simultaneously.
LLOYD ZEN
Zen takes its fluted language from architectural glass, luxury lighting, and fine glassware
OFF- The sliding fascia keeps it discreet
ON – It lifts, the display appears, and ambient light glows to life
The intention was to diffuse and soften the light
A fluted design was the best choice for this, as it efficiently done the job while helping the product appear less obtrusive on wall
DESIGN CONSTRAINTS AND OPTIMIZATION
Integrating the fluted acrylic fascia posed two primary technical challenges : managing assembly tolerances and achieving a uniform light gradient across the surfaceThe deco strip went through multiple material and finish iterations – from mockups to lit prototypes to get the light diffusion and warmth right. CMF exploration ran in parallel, testing tones and textures against real material swatches before locking the final palette
The fluted profile was chosen over the reeded profile
Recessed channels helped in guiding bottom LED light towards top, creating soft, glare free gradient, whole the flat edges maintained crisp 3d definition
Replaced rear vinyl film application – which caused 70% production rejection rate due to air entrapment
With a textured back paint coating to achieve a clean, defect free opaque finish
ZEN