Investigating the User Experience and Identifying User Needs for Kitchen Appliances Using Thematic Analysis

Kitchen appliances are essential to accomplish cooking tasks efficiently. Advancements in technology have led to changes in the needs and expectations of the users of commonly used kitchen appliances. Thus, this qualitative research aims to investigate the user experience and identify the user needs for common kitchen appliances (microwave, cooktop, oven, and dishwasher) by conducting semi-structured interviews with users who frequently use the appliances. Results of the thematic analysis showed that UX factors such as informativeness, comfortability, and safety were prominent sub-themes across all kitchen appliances. Based on the findings, we presented design recommendations on how the product can be improved.