Spot trends in the visual perception and emotional values in the Russian electrical floor heating market. Identify new product opportunities, improve design of thermostats.

The Russian market has become of the outmost importance for Danish Danfoss. Thus, the need for high-quality Russian design research project arose.

Danish design consultancy Harrit & Sorensen asked Russian design research and strategy consultancy Lumiknows to conduct the design research and strategy parts of the project. Desk research has resulted in preliminary report prepared by Lumiknows consisting of benchmarking, analysis of such trends as cottage building boom in Russia, growth of interest in ‘Smart House’ concept, increase in energy supply costs, as well as investigation into Russian building standards & regulations. 

Focus of the field research was on observing/interviewing all stakeholders of the product: sales, designers, architects, engineers, installers, end users - private and commercial. 'Customer journey' in Moscow and St.-Petersburg DIY stores (Leroy Merlin, Castorama, OBI) along with visiting open-air markets and point of sales gave insight into brand experience in Russia. The result is design concepts of DEVI thermostats for four market segments based on analysis of aesthetics and ergonomics, trends in interior and lifestyle, brand awareness and positioning.

The project for Danfoss has become second Russian design research after Samsung. You can see design audit of visual communications of Russian car maker Lada fulfilled by the Russian design research consultancy Lumiknows for Renault.

Design Research for Russia  |  Product Design & Development in Russia  |  Culture Transformation