MAISO (2020-2023)
A premium water bottle brand designed for your home: www.maiso.co
Maiso was a project to launch a 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 primarily made for the outdoors. This results in a rugged and sporty aesthetic, which has become adapted into the norm. People however, tend to carry their water bottles to places such as work and home most of the time. I believed that a less rugged and more refined design language can be preferred. With this in mind, I sought to create a water bottle that blends seamlessly into one's surroundings, particularly in the home.
Construction Research
Construction research was done on a wide variety of existing water bottles on the market. My goal was to figure out the construction methods and weld positions 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 spent time exploring the proportions and sizes of the water bottles. 3D printing helped me analyze different proportions in person. I finalized with a 17 oz and 9 oz bottle, as they were optimal sizes to carry water and coffee, carry with your hand and bag, and complemented each other well when paired together.
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.
