MAISO (2020 - 2022)
A premium water bottle brand designed for your home: www.maiso.co
Maiso was a project to launch my personal idea to market. My goal was to gain a holistic understanding of taking a product to market, from concept development to reaching the end customer. I’ve always been curious in exploring the areas of manufacturing, product development, business, and marketing strategies. I was also very particular with my water bottles, so I believed that a water bottle would be the perfect medium to pursue this project.
Opportunity
Most insulated water bottles on the market are designed primarily for outdoor use. As a result, they often feature a rugged, sporty aesthetic that has become the norm. However, many people use their water bottles in more everyday settings, such as at home or at work, where such a design may feel out of place.
With this in mind, I set out to create a water bottle that offers a more refined design direction, one that blends seamlessly into its surroundings, particularly within the home.
Construction Research
My goal was to figure out the construction methods, weld positions, and general assembly of the insulated double-walled stainless steel. This led me to cut open a majority of water bottles on the market with an angle grinder.
Prototyping
After designing the initial silhouette, I focused on refining the proportions and sizing of the water bottles. Using 3D printing, I finalized on two sizes, 17 oz and 9 oz. as they offered the best balance for daily use. The 17 oz is ideal for carrying water, while the 9 oz is well-suited for coffee and tea. Both are comfortable to hold, easy to carry in a bag, and work harmoniously as a set.
Product Development & Manufacturing
After finding a verified supplier, I went through process of sampling, quality control, and reviewing assembly line processes. It took about 6 rounds of prototype samples to complete the finished product. From color matching to alignment, I discovered the challenges when creating consistent products in large quantities. I helped the supplier in creating consistent manufacturing solutions, as well as solving compromises in order to keep the product’s overall design intent.
Finished Product
I was inspired by the natural objects from around my home. I found inspiration in materials such as ceramics and wood, as they have a sense of warmth and character to them. I wanted this bottle to harmonize with the existing objects around my home.
One design aspect was to hide the metal from showing on the bottle. The shiny and reflective nature of the metal visually clashed with the neutral colors and material pallet of the bottle. By hiding the metal element to the inside of the bottle, it simplified the material break up and made the bottles feel more natural. Other design details include having an ergonomic drinking lip that follows the curvature of your mouth, hiding the threads of the bottle to the inside, incorporating a wide mouth opening, and having a silicone bottom so the bottle sits gently on surfaces.
Branding
Maiso is derived from the word maison, meaning home in French. The name ties with the ethos on creating a water bottle for one’s home. The brand is centered around creating a natural and sophisticated aesthetic, that promotes a sense of wellbeing and balance in the lives of its customers. For the logo, I opted for a minimalistic approach, using a blocky sans serif font that is easy to read even in small applications. The bottles are typically displayed with natural materials such as stone and sand, which further reinforces the brand's connection with natural elements.
Website Design
The design of the website had to be cohesive to the brand identity of the water bottle. I designed the website with a minimal feel, incorporating a light muted gray color palette. The goal was to create a sophisticated and luxurious feeling website that complemented the design of the water bottle.
Creative
Creative and marketing assets created for the product. To tie in with the brand identity, I implemented neutral tones, playing with textures of stone, shadows, and reflections. The photos and renderings are made to feel a sense of zen, with sophisticated undertone.
