NKBA’s Thirty Under 30 Class of 2018 presented innovative kitchen ideas with an emphasis on healthy eating.
By: Loren Kessell
A stovetop with a built-in drain? An herb garden in the fridge? Bluetooth tracking of expiration dates?
These were among the “product of the future” concepts presented by the NKBA’s Thirty Under 30 Class of 2018, sponsored by Samsung, at KBIS, Jan. 10 in Orlando.
The association’s celebrated program, which recognizes accomplished young professionals in all aspects of the kitchen and bath industry, honored its newest class at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show.
NKBA added a twist to this year’s proceedings. The new members were split into six teams of five ahead of KBIS, and each team was tasked with creating and presenting a product that they believe holds potential for the kitchen of the future.
Each team took the stage in the bustling Orange County Convention Center and utilized everything from PowerPoint presentations to live demonstrations to present their ideas. A panel of judges evaluated the products, asking each team key questions about the ideas behind the product and its operation.
“The energy in the room at the moment was unforgettable,” said Kevin King, a member of Team Two. “The size of the crowd magnified every emotion.”
The presentations started with Team One and its product called D-Range which is a pot-filler companion product. It features sealed burners, stainless steel, a built-in drain, and it incorporates pot accessories. This product is ideal for universal design, and it consolidates a home chef’s cooking needs in one location. Its drainage feature lets the consumer avoid accidental spills of scalding liquids by eliminating any heavy lifting.
Team Two offered the Living Fridge, complete with a slogan, “Best of all THYME.” Living Fridge features a kit to grow herbs in the refrigerator. The consumer can grow herbs in about seven days in an adjustable growing tray, using two temperature-controlled humidity zones, four grow lights and an automatic watering system.
Team Three’s allSENSE was a slim, flexible sheet with a Bluetooth pairing app that tracks bacteria levels and expiration dates, and provides information about any dietary restrictions or allergies. This product also protects against harmful bacteria and disease with ultraviolet light technology. It tracks the consumer’s usage to monitor buying habits, and it reminds the user to reorder products he or she frequently uses.
Maestro Prep, the brainchild of Team Four, is a meal prep product with bins to separate produce based on chop and meal size. It utilizes a touchscreen that allows the consumer to maximize produce shelf life, eliminate odor, and cut out cleaning since the product self-cleans. Any pulp or scraps are set aside to be reused in another recipe or for composting.
Team Five developed the ActiveBlend refrigerator to incorporate a smoothie blender in the fridge. The consumer fills a compartment with raw ingredients, and ActiveBlend creates the smoothie with blades that adjust based on the thickness and density of the ingredients. It is BPA-free, and it lets the homeowner know when ingredients are low or expiring.
The waste-eliminating product Pause Fresh was the creation of Team Six. This unit preserves food’s freshness with various cartridges that target specific needs. It connects to a smart device via an app, so the consumer can access information anytime. Pause Fresh also helps eliminate preservatives for a healthier lifestyle.
All of the teams presented innovative ideas, but after some debate, the judges chose Team Two’s Living Fridge as the winner.
According to a team statement, research for the product itself was focused around purification and prolonging produce life, and the needs of the refrigerator and freezer compared to the warm compartment of the built-in garden.
Living Fridge purifies food with zeolite blocks that are recharged by LED lighting. Zeolite is a natural mineral that attracts and absorbs chemical and organic odors. It also includes an optional Bluetooth feature that allows the user to set up expiration date alerts, shopping lists, and meal plans. A camera also allows the user to see anywhere inside the fridge to track herb growth.
“Living Fridge allows more people access to fresh, organic herbs and micro greens easily, by managing the majority of the care, enough water and light,” added team member Kelsey Holtz. “By incorporating the garden into an existing appliance, we have eliminated both the need and expense of an additional appliance.”
Team Two accepted their prizes — $250 each — before a packed audience. Its product as well as some of the others, showed how the culture is trying to shift toward healthy, green living.
The 2018 Thirty Under 30 class embodies the future of design, and with upcoming talent like them, assures innovation for the future of the industry.
