Industrial design for immersive digital experiences
At Design Katte, we believe that the physical form of a product is as important as its function. Over the years, we’ve designed a series of interactive kiosks that support immersive technologies like Leap Motion, Kinect, and VR. These kiosks are used in exhibitions, public spaces, and branded experiences, often as a gateway to rich digital content.
The Collaboration
While the interactive content and technologies were developed by our partner studio Digital Jalebi, we were brought in to design the physical enclosures — the structures that hold the screens, sensors, cables, and user-facing components.
Our job was not just to make them look good, but to ensure they were easy to manufacture, economical, and fit for their environment.
Designing for Local Contexts
One of the key principles behind this project was designing for local fabrication. We considered the region, available materials, and fabrication skills while planning each enclosure.
- In India, we leaned on carpentry and MDF-based builds. These were quick to produce, cost-effective, and easy to modify during prototyping.
- For New Zealand, sheet metal fabrication was more accessible, so we created designs optimized for bending and welding sheet metal.
- In the UK, a similar fabrication environment allowed us to reuse and refine the metal-based approach.
This flexibility helped clients across regions reduce both development time and manufacturing costs, without compromising on function or aesthetics.
More Than Just Sketches
Our involvement extended well beyond design sketches. For every kiosk, we delivered detailed fabrication drawings, ready for production. We also coordinated directly with local fabricators to ensure the design was executed as intended.
Each unit was tailored to the hardware inside — accounting for screen sizes, ventilation, wiring paths, and interaction zones. From Leap Motion’s hand tracking to Kinect’s body recognition, we made sure the physical setup supported the tech seamlessly.
Final Thoughts
These kiosks are not just display units. They are tools for engagement, and our role was to make them approachable, manufacturable, and locally adaptable.
This project represents what we at Design Katte do best — bringing design thinking into real-world constraints, collaborating across disciplines, and shaping ideas through grounded conversations.
Have something physical to build? Let’s sit at the Katte and figure it out.