IHA chats with Chris Bissig, Manager, Concept and Brand Development at GE Appliances in Louisville, Kentucky to get a preview of his upcoming Healthy Living Begins at Home presentation at the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show. The Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations over four days covering topics ranging from new product development to the smart home. Chris will touch upon smart home concepts in his view of family activities in the home kitchen.
Chris Bissig, IDSA, leads the group responsible for creating appearances for GE Appliances Brands as well as developing concepts for future products. His team designs GE Appliance’s control strategy, developing user-interfaces and connected home experiences. A big believer in user centered design, Chris joined GE Appliances in 2000 as an industrial designer leading development for refrigeration platforms and through co-design research created new dispenser features such as autofill and hot water dispensing. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial design from Purdue University.
Chris, what is the most exciting or rewarding part of your work? What fuels your inspiration?
I love working at the intersection of user needs and technology. We strive to understand how we can help the user in the kitchen and its very rewarding to find ways to make day to day life easier.
Can you name a pivotal event or project that impacted your career or company?
A pivotal project for me was the GE Profile and Cafe bottom freezer made in Louisville, Ky. These pieces feature some innovative dispensing ideas that were developed because of what we learned while designing the product with users in their kitchens. Cardboard and Velcro tape are great mediums for quickly letting users build designs and try those concepts with their own kitchen tools. From this we launched our Auto-Fill and Hot Water dispensing technologies.
Tell us what you will be speaking about and how and this topic is important for Show audiences.
I’ll be talking about GE’s initiative to promote healthy eating in the kitchen. With more than two-thirds of the total cost of healthcare in the United States driven by unhealthful behavior, one of the key decisions we can make to reduce these costs and improve long-term wellness is eating well. Our design team began exploring the intersection of kitchen design, smart appliances and internet-connected services to promote health and wellness through better nutrition. Working with home builders, health providers, food growers and grocery delivery services, we are trying to understand how to create a more holistic meal preparation system.
Healthy Living Begins at Home
March 19, Sunday 2:30 -3:20 pm
Innovation Theater, Lakeside Center, Room E350
What are you looking forward to most from speaking at the Innovation Theater?
First time for me to present in the Theater. I’m really looking forward to the feedback and making connections with others developing ideas for healthy kitchens!
Thank you, Chris, for sharing some background with us about how appliances are conceived and development at GE, which is such a large company with a long legacy of innovation. Your presentation will inspire audiences to think more broadly about how families make choices and behave in the kitchen.
For further information contact:
Chris Bissig
Manager, Concept and Brand Development
GE Appliances
AP 35-1007B
Louisville, KY 40225
Innovation propels the housewares industry. Learn from experts about how to invigorate your new products and services by enhancing your innovation efforts. Critical issues such as global design trends, licensing, the emerging Smart Home category, branding, the needs of distinct consumer age and gender groups, the future of food and parenting – all impact the home goods market. Be sure to attend the free executive-level educational sessions at the Innovation Theater. These programs will give you a fresh perspective as you walk the Show and will inspire, inform and improve your business.
The four days of the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show will be packed with events and education. To help you plan your valuable time at the Show, we introduce you to the speakers and the 21 exciting presentations that will take place in the Innovation Theater in the Lakeside Center. Gain cutting-edge insights that you can apply to your work. All programs are audio-recorded and will be available at www.housewares.org after the Show.
