From left to right, Pamela McNally, NKBA SVP Marketing & Digital, with panelists including Gary So, VP Marketing, Digital Appliances at Samsung, Sarah Larsen, VP Marketing, Home Electronics at Samsung, Geraldine Morrison, Executive Director, Digital Appliances at Dacor and Claudia Santos, Director Product Marketing – Connected Living at Samsung.

NKBA hosted a panel with Samsung and Dacor executives to discuss how technology and design innovations will revolutionize the home.

By Elisa Fernández-Arias

NKBA recently hosted its Design + Tech Summit, in partnership with Samsung, and one of the panel discussions focused on how the convergence of technology and design will continue to transform not only the kitchen and bath, but also the whole home. The session – like all the sessions during the July 25th Summit – took place on stage in the immersive theater with a three-story LED screen at the Samsung 837 store in New York. 

Entitled “Your Future Home Will Be Smarter Than You…And Be a Reflection of Your Individualism”, the panel featured Gary So, VP Marketing, Digital Appliances at Samsung, Sarah Larsen, VP Marketing, Home Electronics at Samsung, Geraldine Morrison, Executive Director, Digital Appliances at Dacor and Claudia Santos, Director Product Marketing – Connected Living at Samsung. The session was moderated by Pamela McNally, SVP of Marketing and Digital, NKBA. 

“[Consumers] want products that make their lives easier through purposeful, smart features that make everyday living easier for them.” — Claudia Santos, Director Product Marketing – Connected Living at Samsung.

The discussion began with an exploration of  how technology is already prevalent in the home and what consumers are ultimately seeking: convenience. “Through the integration of smart devices as well as the internet of things, all of our homes have become smarter, more efficient and more convenient than ever before,” said Santos. “And when we look at consumers, consumers are seeking convenience. Especially when they’re looking for smart home devices. They want products that make their lives easier through purposeful, smart features that make everyday living easier for them.”

Additional topics included the importance of individuals expressing themselves through personalization and customization, interconnectedness of devices made by multiple brands and what the luxury consumer wants. Panelists also talked about “future proofing” products, so that smart home products evolve over time with the consumer.  

Attendees also learned about how Samsung and Dacor are becoming more interconnected across appliance categories, a big ask by consumers looking to brands to make home technology more convenient and accessible.

To view “Your Future Home Will Be Smarter Than You…And Be a Reflection of Your Individualism” on demand, go here.

“Consumers and homeowners have had a dramatic change in their relationship [with their kitchen and their appliances]. I call it much more emotionally driven, much more ego-expressive…Really, [consumers] want to be able to create an experience that really speaks to their persona and their passion points.” — Gary So, VP Marketing, Digital Appliances at Samsung

“For the luxury consumer, they want design, they want performance, they want connectivity.” — Geraldine Morrison, Executive Director, Digital Appliances at Dacor

“[Around] 71 percent of people expect — not want, but expect  — that their products are customizable and personalized.” — Sarah Larsen, VP Marketing, Home Electronics at Samsung