Product Design
PMD Sky
A redesigned personal grooming device inspired by Gae Aulenti, combining bold geometric form with modern skincare technology to create a functional yet sculptural product.
Year :
2021
Industry :
Beauty / Personal Care Technology
Client :
Undergraduate
Project Duration :
14 weeks
Problem :
Many personal grooming devices prioritise functionality over design expression, often resulting in products that feel generic, overly technical, and lacking a distinct identity.
This creates an opportunity to explore how everyday skincare tools can be elevated through a more design-led approach that enhances both aesthetic value and user experience, while still maintaining usability and brand expectations.
Research :
Research focused on understanding both the existing PMD product range and the design language of Gae Aulenti.
This included:
Analysis of PMD devices to understand form, function, and user expectations
Visual and contextual research into Gae Aulenti’s architectural and product design work
Exploration of geometric forms, material contrast, and structural composition
Development of moodboards and style tiles to translate visual references into a coherent design direction
Key insights:
PMD products prioritise functionality and clarity in form
Gae Aulenti’s work is characterised by bold geometry, strong structure, and material contrast
There is potential to merge functional skincare design with sculptural, expressive form
These insights informed a direction that balances usability with strong visual identity.
Solution :
The final design reimagines a personal grooming device by combining PMD’s skincare technology with a more expressive, sculptural form language inspired by Gae Aulenti.
Key design decisions included:
Introducing bold geometric structure to elevate visual identity
Using material contrast to create a more architectural feel
Maintaining ergonomic considerations to ensure usability and comfort
Ensuring the device remains aligned with PMD’s functional expectations while introducing a more design-led aesthetic
The result is a product that functions effectively as a grooming device while also acting as a visually distinctive design object.
Challenge :
A key challenge was balancing expressive form with ergonomic function.
Incorporating bold geometric influences while maintaining usability required iterative refinement to ensure the product remained comfortable and practical in use.
Additional challenges included:
Integrating a new visual direction without conflicting with PMD’s existing product language
Translating architectural inspiration into a handheld product context
Ensuring the design remained realistic and manufacturable while still visually ambitious
These constraints required continuous adjustment between aesthetics, usability, and brand alignment.
Constraints :
This project was developed as a conceptual product design exploration, with a focus on form, aesthetics, and brand reinterpretation.
Additional constraints included:
Working within the functional expectations of an existing product category
Aligning with PMD’s established product ecosystem
Translating architectural inspiration into a physically usable object
Balancing conceptual exploration with realistic product considerations
These constraints guided decisions around proportion, usability, and material expression.
Outcome :
The final outcome is a redesigned personal grooming device that merges functional skincare technology with a more expressive and sculptural design language.
The project:
Strengthens visual identity within an otherwise functional product category
Demonstrates how design references can inform product form and material choices
Maintains usability while introducing a more distinctive aesthetic direction
Expands the perceived potential of everyday grooming devices through design-led thinking
Supporting materials such as moodboards and style tiles helped define and communicate the visual direction throughout the design process.
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Award Winner
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Product Design
PMD Sky
A redesigned personal grooming device inspired by Gae Aulenti, combining bold geometric form with modern skincare technology to create a functional yet sculptural product.
Year :
2021
Industry :
Beauty / Personal Care Technology
Client :
Undergraduate
Project Duration :
14 weeks
Problem :
Many personal grooming devices prioritise functionality over design expression, often resulting in products that feel generic, overly technical, and lacking a distinct identity.
This creates an opportunity to explore how everyday skincare tools can be elevated through a more design-led approach that enhances both aesthetic value and user experience, while still maintaining usability and brand expectations.
Research :
Research focused on understanding both the existing PMD product range and the design language of Gae Aulenti.
This included:
Analysis of PMD devices to understand form, function, and user expectations
Visual and contextual research into Gae Aulenti’s architectural and product design work
Exploration of geometric forms, material contrast, and structural composition
Development of moodboards and style tiles to translate visual references into a coherent design direction
Key insights:
PMD products prioritise functionality and clarity in form
Gae Aulenti’s work is characterised by bold geometry, strong structure, and material contrast
There is potential to merge functional skincare design with sculptural, expressive form
These insights informed a direction that balances usability with strong visual identity.
Solution :
The final design reimagines a personal grooming device by combining PMD’s skincare technology with a more expressive, sculptural form language inspired by Gae Aulenti.
Key design decisions included:
Introducing bold geometric structure to elevate visual identity
Using material contrast to create a more architectural feel
Maintaining ergonomic considerations to ensure usability and comfort
Ensuring the device remains aligned with PMD’s functional expectations while introducing a more design-led aesthetic
The result is a product that functions effectively as a grooming device while also acting as a visually distinctive design object.
Challenge :
A key challenge was balancing expressive form with ergonomic function.
Incorporating bold geometric influences while maintaining usability required iterative refinement to ensure the product remained comfortable and practical in use.
Additional challenges included:
Integrating a new visual direction without conflicting with PMD’s existing product language
Translating architectural inspiration into a handheld product context
Ensuring the design remained realistic and manufacturable while still visually ambitious
These constraints required continuous adjustment between aesthetics, usability, and brand alignment.
Constraints :
This project was developed as a conceptual product design exploration, with a focus on form, aesthetics, and brand reinterpretation.
Additional constraints included:
Working within the functional expectations of an existing product category
Aligning with PMD’s established product ecosystem
Translating architectural inspiration into a physically usable object
Balancing conceptual exploration with realistic product considerations
These constraints guided decisions around proportion, usability, and material expression.
Outcome :
The final outcome is a redesigned personal grooming device that merges functional skincare technology with a more expressive and sculptural design language.
The project:
Strengthens visual identity within an otherwise functional product category
Demonstrates how design references can inform product form and material choices
Maintains usability while introducing a more distinctive aesthetic direction
Expands the perceived potential of everyday grooming devices through design-led thinking
Supporting materials such as moodboards and style tiles helped define and communicate the visual direction throughout the design process.
More Projects
Award Winner
Read
Product Design
PMD Sky
A redesigned personal grooming device inspired by Gae Aulenti, combining bold geometric form with modern skincare technology to create a functional yet sculptural product.
Year :
2021
Industry :
Beauty / Personal Care Technology
Client :
Undergraduate
Project Duration :
14 weeks
Problem :
Many personal grooming devices prioritise functionality over design expression, often resulting in products that feel generic, overly technical, and lacking a distinct identity.
This creates an opportunity to explore how everyday skincare tools can be elevated through a more design-led approach that enhances both aesthetic value and user experience, while still maintaining usability and brand expectations.
Research :
Research focused on understanding both the existing PMD product range and the design language of Gae Aulenti.
This included:
Analysis of PMD devices to understand form, function, and user expectations
Visual and contextual research into Gae Aulenti’s architectural and product design work
Exploration of geometric forms, material contrast, and structural composition
Development of moodboards and style tiles to translate visual references into a coherent design direction
Key insights:
PMD products prioritise functionality and clarity in form
Gae Aulenti’s work is characterised by bold geometry, strong structure, and material contrast
There is potential to merge functional skincare design with sculptural, expressive form
These insights informed a direction that balances usability with strong visual identity.
Solution :
The final design reimagines a personal grooming device by combining PMD’s skincare technology with a more expressive, sculptural form language inspired by Gae Aulenti.
Key design decisions included:
Introducing bold geometric structure to elevate visual identity
Using material contrast to create a more architectural feel
Maintaining ergonomic considerations to ensure usability and comfort
Ensuring the device remains aligned with PMD’s functional expectations while introducing a more design-led aesthetic
The result is a product that functions effectively as a grooming device while also acting as a visually distinctive design object.
Challenge :
A key challenge was balancing expressive form with ergonomic function.
Incorporating bold geometric influences while maintaining usability required iterative refinement to ensure the product remained comfortable and practical in use.
Additional challenges included:
Integrating a new visual direction without conflicting with PMD’s existing product language
Translating architectural inspiration into a handheld product context
Ensuring the design remained realistic and manufacturable while still visually ambitious
These constraints required continuous adjustment between aesthetics, usability, and brand alignment.
Constraints :
This project was developed as a conceptual product design exploration, with a focus on form, aesthetics, and brand reinterpretation.
Additional constraints included:
Working within the functional expectations of an existing product category
Aligning with PMD’s established product ecosystem
Translating architectural inspiration into a physically usable object
Balancing conceptual exploration with realistic product considerations
These constraints guided decisions around proportion, usability, and material expression.
Outcome :
The final outcome is a redesigned personal grooming device that merges functional skincare technology with a more expressive and sculptural design language.
The project:
Strengthens visual identity within an otherwise functional product category
Demonstrates how design references can inform product form and material choices
Maintains usability while introducing a more distinctive aesthetic direction
Expands the perceived potential of everyday grooming devices through design-led thinking
Supporting materials such as moodboards and style tiles helped define and communicate the visual direction throughout the design process.
More Projects
Award Winner
Read