OREANDA-NEWS. With the introduction of the GE Artistry™ Series, GE's designers focus on the needs of today's generation of Millennials and their desire to uniquely express themselves. Created by a 27-year-old GE industrial designer with his own generation in mind, the Artistry Series provides first-time homebuyers with a distinctive and cool appearance at a price they can afford. This new line of stylishly sensible kitchen products includes five appliances: a gas range, electric range, bottom-freezer refrigerator, over-the-range microwave and top-control dishwasher.

Today's Millennials comprise a significant number of first-time homebuyers; in fact, according to real estate brokerage company, Redfin, homebuyers in the 25- to 34-year-old age group make up the largest proportion of homebuyers.

“These buyers are price conscious and design savvy, but also want appliances from a brand they trust,” said Lou Lenzi, director of GE's Industrial Design Operation. “In today's marketplace, affordable appliances tend to look the same; GE Artistry Series fills that void for consumers by offering unique-looking products not currently sold by other manufacturers.”

Designed to delight and disrupt at retail

Most appliances in this segment of the market have similar features that consumers use every day; Artistry offers this, as well as a design aesthetic that will stand out in the home and on the retail floor.

“Investing in the design of these appliances was a top priority for our team,” said Lenzi. “We've tripled our design resources over the past two years, and after much research, Tomas DeLuna, industrial designer for GE Appliances' Concept and Brand team, was tapped to lead the development of the Artistry Series. The look needed to be simple and approachable with very clean lines. DeLuna's design sensibilities made him an ideal fit to lead the project.”

DeLuna took the opportunity to design for his own generation by focusing on touchpoints that mattered to him, in areas where consumers interact most with the product-handles, knobs and clocks. “Making the critical consumer touchpoints metallic, and set against either a pure, white gloss or black gloss finish, creates a look that is both familiar to our consumers, yet remains fresh and modern,” said DeLuna. “That's what makes the GE Artistry Series special; the design is authentic and contemporary with a nod to the past not currently offered in the marketplace.”

The GE logo, visible as a badge on the appliances, also reflects this philosophy. The GE monogram with the words “General” and “Electric” recalls the product badges of the past, yet the juxtaposition of chrome and high-gloss color evokes the core, contemporary Artistry design principles.

Both the new dishwasher and refrigerator are ENERGY STAR®-qualified appliances. The bottom-freezer refrigerator costs USD 49 to operate annually.

The full GE Artistry Series will be available in September 2013. Estimated retail price of the full GE Artistry product suite is USD 2,416.*