Liam Vollbracht Industrial Design

Industrial designer and student at University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning (DAAP).

Gather
Facial Exfoliator
Efflorescence
Visualization
Co-op

vollbrlj@mail.uc.edu
+1 513 657 9919
@liamvollbracht

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Facial Exfoliator
Sonic facial exfoliator concept inspired by MUJI's brand identity and design philosophy.

A personal skincare device designed to match the hand’s natural resting state.

Guiding Observation

The skincare technology sector can be difficult for consumers to navigate. Particularly in the age of influencer promotions, users are left to question the quality and technological legitimacy that products claim to offer. Additionally, skincare technology products vary heavily in price, with few options in the mid-price range. 

Initial Research

Initial research was conducted in groups to learn more about the skincare industry, the technology behind it, and to study the range of aesthetics associated with wellness and beauty. 
Consumer SurveyA consumer survey was conducted to learn more about users’ skincare habits, and their overall thoughts and feelings about self-care and beauty. The survey had 54 responses with a median age range of 18-23. Augusta Aesthetics
 Site Visit
Augusta Aesthetics is a Medical Spa in Cincinnati, OH. Their practices involve highly abrasive and technologically sophisticated tools, meaning clients seek an added layer of trust and comfort.

We were able to chat with Shannon, an esthetician at Augusta Aesthetics, about the state of skincare. 

Shannon emphasized the importance of consumer education, especially in an era dominated by viral marketing Christine Rice Beauty
Site Visit Christine Rice is an esthetician who performs much gentler procedures in a far less clinical environment.

She is an advocate of a holistic approach to self-care, lamenting that the industry has become increasingly results-driven since her time as an esthetician.

We discussed how scent, texture, sound, and other tactile inputs impact the skincare experience.

Insights from research

From our consumer survey, we discovered that the most commonly used skincare device was the sonic facial exfoliator, with 62% of respondants reporting using or having used one of these devices in the past.

This inspired me to assess the available products on the market in this category, and to try and address problems with current solutions. 
Market ResearchLooking at available skincare products on the market, I noted the extremely wide range of prices for this type of product. Online markets such as Temu and TikTok Shop primarily sold products in the $5-20 range. Trusted retailers like Sephora and Best Buy had a much higher price range.

The factors affecting cost included brand recognition, proposed benefits between products, and aesthetic consideration. 

Distribution channels also greatly affected cost. A user may choose to purchase a far more expensive product from Sephora because they are familiar of them as a retailer. There is a sense of trust between the distributor and the consumer. 

In this product space in particular, establishing trust with the user is critical. 





Product TeardownTo learn how these devices work, I purchased one for $15 to deconstruct it and understand it’s internal components. 
This particular product had a main shell made from injection-molded plastic which housed a battery, a motor, a circuitboard, two buttons, and an inducting charging cable. The silicone surface was glued to the body, and the back was held in place with a snap fit. 
Skincare offering at MUJI.
MUJI Kitchen appliances designed by Naoto Fukasawa.
MUJI
Brand Opportunity MUJI is a Japanese retailer and manufacturer who operate across many product sectors within the home and personal care space. The brand emphasizes ease of use, simplicity of form, and a complete lack of branding. 

Amongst their wide product offering, MUJI has been a trusted brand in the skincare space, offering simple, inexpensive products for cleansing, exfoliation, and moisturizing.

The company also operates in the consumer electronics space.  Their now-archival CD Player, Electric Kettle, Blender, and Toaster are beloved  icons of design history which embody the brand’s ethos. 

The intersection of personal care and consumer technology could be the perfect space for MUJI.

The affordability of their product offering and loyal customer gives MUJI the chance to become an all-in-one destination for skincare.

Kenya Hara

Designer, author, curator, and Art Director at MUJI. His use of emptiness in design has made him one of the most influential figures in contemporary Japanese design.

“We get scared of emptiness, but we forget that emptiness is how light enters [...] It allows you to be free of clutter and have new thoughts every day.”
 Naoto Fukasawa
Industrial designer, author, and educator. He teaches a practice of Design Without Thought, an approach he describes as “finding ideas in people’s spontaneous behaviors and realizing these ideas in design”.

His approach is perfectly suited for the MUJI philosophy, and the two have been longtime collaborators.
Form LanguageMUJI’s form language is defined by soft curves, smooth surface transitions, and a complete lack of visible branding. 

Ideation

SketchingSketches were used for early form exploration, button placement, and internal component management.PrototypingPrototyping took place alongside sketching to test how the forms felt in the hand.  Size, comfort, and weight distribution were considered simultaneously.





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