The focus of this project was to create an affordable and attractive bed for Gen Z customers in India who are now gaining buying power. Our research revealed that while this group budgets a very minor part of their income towards furniture purchasing they are very style conscious and trend savvy. Hence while the bed had to be affordable it also had to be appealing to them.

A tone on tone colour scheme of neutral, calming beiges was chosen as this colourway is trending and is also a great backdrop for any bed linen.

There are many decisions that helped bring down the price of this product. But these decisions were coupled with intelligent design so that the maximum functionality and visual appeal could also be gleaned out of the minimal materials used. They are as follows -
1. A metal construction was chosen due to its cost effectiveness, robustness and its minimal aesthetic.
2. A 6’ x 4’ mattress size was chosen as it would be just enough for two young average sized Indian people and comfortable for one person. A platform height of 300mm was chosen.
3. The footboard was avoided. This helped to reduce cost and also added functionality as it allows sitting at the foot of the bed.
4. The structure of the headboard was designed so that a relatively narrow board could be used at the apt height and angle to give the required leaning comfort and visual appeal.
5. The headboard’s shape with its upswept corners is perfect for hanging one’s headphones or for clipping on a reading lamp. But this shape while aesthetic and functional is also key in ensuring 91% board utilization. Six such headboards can be cut from one 4’ x 8’ prelam particle board.

This product was launched in mid-June 2024 and is selling in higher than expected numbers, therefore validating the design process and the design decisions taken while creating it.

I was also part of the team that designed and executed the photography concept for this product. We used a mix of photography editing and sketching to give the images a young and edgy Gen Z vibe.