Accessible Apple, Carseat design, Luna , 8th BMW 5 Series #211 / May 26, 2023(Fri) / Confidential |
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So, I bought this tiny silicone washing machine from Temu as my first order. It's perfect for washing small stuff like socks and was priced around $45 on Amazon. But guess what? On Temu, I snagged it for a special price of just $0.98! I was a bit skeptical about the quality, but turns out, it wasn't much different from the one sold on Amazon. Ever since then, I've been ordering less from Amazon and finding myself searching for the Temu app more often.
Temu burst onto the scene like a shooting star in the US e-commerce market when it launched in September last year. Within just three months, it racked up over 44.5 million users and now sits at the top of the shopping category on the Apple App Store.
When you visit their website, you'll immediately notice a clean and organized layout, unlike the well-known Chinese platform, AliExpress. It feels like they took inspiration from super affordable fast-fashion brands like Shein and video-focused platforms like TikTok.
Temu takes the ultra-low-cost strategy to a whole new level compared to Shein. It reminds me of Walmart in the US, covering not only fashion but also household goods. The products are mostly similar in quality to what you'd find on Amazon, but the prices can go as low as 1/10th of the price!
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Just like in that Super Bowl commercial, the slogan "Shop like a millionaire" has made people think of Temu as a shopping platform where you can splurge like a rich person but still score great deals. They've even earned the nickname "Price Butcher," and Americans are quickly changing their go-to online stores. One Temu user from Texas said, "It feels like getting mugged if I shop anywhere else."
By the way, Temu's parent company is PDD Holdings, and they've really shaken things up for Alibaba. In 2020, PDD had more users than both Alibaba and JD.com. They offer fantastic value by directly connecting consumers with smaller manufacturing factories that aren't as well-known. They use a model called C2M (Consumer-to-Manufacturer) to create products based on what customers want.
To cut down on shipping costs, they gather all the products in warehouses in Guangzhou, China, and ship them together, skipping middlemen. This lets them offer lower prices. The shipping time of around 14 days feels much quicker than AliExpress. If your delivery takes longer than two weeks, they even compensate you. And their "no questions asked" 90-day refund policy is giving Amazon a run for its money. (It's so similar, it feels like they just copied and pasted it...) Unlike Amazon, Temu acts as an intermediary, handling only the products registered by sellers. They don't have to rent warehouses in the US, so they don't deal with the hassle of managing inventory.
During a conversation with my sibling in Korea, I found out that even Koreans prefer to shop from Chinese online stores for the lowest prices. They only use Korean online malls like Coupang for fresh groceries or quick deliveries. It seems like a similar trend is happening in the US due to the economic downturn. As Amazon loses its advantage in terms of pricing, they're shifting their focus to extra services like "Amazon Clinic," "Amazon Pharmacy," and "Amazon Luna."
So, who's going to come out on top in this intense competition?
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🤗 Summary of This Newsletter
01. Consumer Trend - Simplifying to empower, Apple redesigns iOS for people with cognitive disabilities
02. Design Research - Exploration of the Infant Car Seat / LUNA Hybrid-Lounger
03. Automotive News - All new 8th Gen 5 Series Design
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Consumer Trend - Simplifying to empower, Apple redesigns iOS for people with cognitive disabilities
Apple recently announced new software that's super inclusive for people with disabilities like language, vision, hearing, and cognitive impairments. These cool features are gonna be part of iOS 17 in the second half of this year. They use AI to create synthetic voices that sound like the user's own voice, so you can have voice chats with your fam and friends using the Personal Voice feature. And check this out, there's also Point and Speak which uses the iPhone camera to read out small or hard-to-read text or signs really loud.
The whole idea behind these inclusive features is to revamp the iPhone experience and make it easier for everyone. They focus on the important stuff like connecting with loved ones, taking awesome photos, and jamming to music. It's all about reducing the mental strain.
They developed these features based on feedback from the disability communities, honing in on what people actually need and use the most. The interface can be adjusted to fit the needs of users, family members, caregivers, and whoever else. And for those who love visual communication, there are special emoji keyboards and video messaging. You get to choose the way you wanna process information, so it's all about personalization.
Apple wants to make sure they're designing tech for everybody, not just as add-ons. They see it as a big deal and it's all about empowering education, work, safety, and independence. It's about expanding horizons and unlocking potential.
Even though Assistive Access is designed for people with cognitive impairments, it's totally available for folks with difficulty writing or tech challenges too. Apple really shows how they're breaking down barriers for all users by considering everyone's needs.
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Design Research- Exploration of the Infant Car Seat
When a baby is born in the US, you have to have a a car seat before leaving the hospital. You'd think car seat designs, used by so many people, would have gone through major changes, but they're pretty much the same. So, we checked out car seat designs that can easily detach from the car seat base, making it convenient for running errands or meeting folks with the baby. They're also easy to install inside and outside the car and have enough structural integrity to get top ratings in crash tests while being lightweight. We just unveiled these three cool design concepts. |
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The car seats are designed with a genuine understanding and empathy for the users, considering situations where convenience is key. They've added handle carry straps to easily attach the car seat to the base and provide the convenience of taking the baby out of the vehicle. The introduction of cross-body straps offers a way for parents to hold the baby while reducing their own weight and fatigue. Even though they're newborns, the added weight of the car seat reminded us of the past days when we struggled with awkward and burdensome transportation. We hope to see these new lightweight and secure car seat designs hitting the market soon. |
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Design Solution- Luna Lounge, optimized for work, screen, and relaxation.
LUNA offers both ergonomic and functional flexibility, allowing for personalized configurations. It creates a space for creative relaxation in the office and a dedicated relaxation area at home.
The acoustic/visual protection panel, which is motorized, height-adjustable, and rotatable, is upholstered with fabric made from 100% PET bottles. These bottles are collected, cleaned, and shredded to create the upholstery material. LUNA is designed to be versatile and can be used in any location, thanks to its battery-powered linear drives and lighting.
The rotatable sound-absorbing screen serves as a room divider and is specifically designed for co-working spaces, home offices, and spacious living rooms. What makes it particularly interesting is its dynamic functionality, which supports the user's personal well-being.
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Automotive News-BMW 5 Series revealed
BMW has unveiled the 8th generation of their iconic 5 Series, which first hit the roads in the 1970s. This new version aims to establish its superiority over its rival, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which went through significant upgrades. Unlike the radical design changes seen in models like the iX or 7 Series, the new 5 Series maintains a sleek and sharp look, with only minor tweaks to the kidney grille. The grille's inner section has slight variations depending on the powertrain, and extra lighting elements have been added to the outer frame and inner section. The 8th generation 5 Series shares many components with the new 7 Series and has grown in size, with increased length(97mm), width(32mm), height(36mm), and wheelbase(20mm), resulting in a more spacious interior. |
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The interior layout has received a modern update without completely overhauling the design. It introduces a fresh dashboard and a curved display featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch screen. The touchscreen can be operated through touch, gestures, voice commands, or the rotary dial, which is less common in other series.
During charging or when stuck in traffic, the center screen offers various entertainment options, such as watching YouTube or playing smartphone games. Taking inspiration from the E-Class, you can now take selfies using the interior camera, and if someone attempts to break into the car, an alert is sent to the driver's smartphone. The intriguing AR navigation technology found in the iX has also been integrated, enhancing the convenience of driving.
For the first time in the 5 Series, the interior boasts 100% vegan materials, including the door panels, seats, and steering wheel, emphasizing the use of sustainable resources. The panoramic roof has been expanded by a whopping 90% compared to previous models, creating an even more spacious and open feel inside.
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With its combination of dynamic and comfortable styling, we can't wait to get behind the wheel and experience the curved display of the 5 Series for ourselves. |
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With Memorial Day weekend approaching, I'm already seeing many people getting ready to enjoy their 4-day break by heading to various travel destinations. I saw a colleague who was really into overlanding, just received a delivery of a Rooftop Tent for their FJ Cruiser. It's something he've been eyeing for a while, but now that it's actually here, seeing its size and weight, it seems like a daunting task to set it up. However, I guess that's part of the fun of overlanding, like filling a blank canvas with an amazing picture. I'm dreaming of an incredible adventure... (I'll definitely share a picture when it's all set up later!) |
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Kia Design Center America
Written by Jenna Chwee
Email: jchwee@hatci.com
101 Peters Canyon Rd. Irvine, CA 92606
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