Technology is now everywhere in the home. Yet too often, it is still introduced for its own sake, with limited consideration for how we actually want to interact with it—or whether we want to interact with it at all. For technology to truly become ubiquitous, it must move beyond functionality and integrate seamlessly into the way we live.
Fifteen years ago, I made a shift in my career. After a decade in consumer electronics, I moved to lead the Kohler design studio in Shanghai, and have been working in the Kitchen and Bath industry ever since. What drew me to it was its unique position—particularly in North America—at the intersection of product and home décor, of function and expression.
Interaction Comes First
The most meaningful innovation is not more digital.
It is better interaction.
In the early 2000s, a small Cambridge, MA–based startup explored “ambient technology.” One of their products—a simple orb—changed color based on a data stream. On Wall Street, it tracked the NASDAQ. But when a California utility connected it to real-time electricity pricing, something remarkable happened: without instructions or interfaces, people adjusted their behavior—and energy bills dropped. “In studies, the Orb has proved as much as 70% more effective than alternative modes of communication”.
No complexity. Just a clear, intuitive signal.
Contrast that with the wave of voice-enabled kitchen faucets: when voice control became mainstream, many manufacturers rushed to integrate it into kitchen faucets—adding features like precise water dispensing. But in reality, very few people want to talk to their faucet.
At American Standard, we took a different approach. We developed a simple control wheel, with crisp texture and haptic feedback, that allows users to set the exact amount of water to be dispensed. It is intuitive, precise, and deeply satisfying. It works for everyone, every day. Behind the scenes, the technology is sophisticated—a digital solenoid valve ensures accuracy and performance. But the experience remains tactile, immediate, and human.
The same principle applies in the shower. Fully digital interfaces, such as touchscreens, often fail in real use—especially when your eyes are closed or covered in soap. In these moments, clarity and familiarity matter more than novelty. With Spectra Loop, a digital, water-saving shower system, we reintroduced analog controls—knobs and buttons that are instantly understandable. Interaction becomes effortless, because it connects to behaviors we already know.
What connects us to products is emotion. And emotion is created through feel.
When interaction is seamless and enjoyable, technology disappears into the routine.
Aesthetic Integration Matters
But interaction alone is not enough. In the home, products must also belong.
Fixtures and fittings sit between industrial design and interior design. They are not just used—they are seen, every day. They shape the atmosphere of a space.
We are now living in a post-Apple era. During the rise of consumer technology from the late 1990s to the mid-2010s, value was driven by new features and new capabilities. Design was intentionally minimal—almost neutral—because it was not the primary driver of adoption.
Today, the context has changed.
As technology becomes embedded in the home, design, style, and expression matter again. The tone of a finish, the texture of a surface, the proportion of a form—these are no longer secondary considerations. They determine whether a product feels integrated… or imposed.
This requires a more holistic approach—closer collaboration between product designers and interior designers, and a deeper understanding of how people shape their environments. And customization and personalization are no longer optional: they are essential. They allow users to truly align products with their space, their taste, their identity.
When a product feels at home visually, it is more easily accepted functionally.
Toward Thoughtful Integration
Successful innovation in the home is not about showcasing technology—it is about integrating it with intention.
When interaction is seamless and enjoyable, and when form aligns with the home environment, technology becomes almost invisible—enhancing the experience without demanding attention.
The future of the home is not more connected objects.
It is more thoughtful ones.