During the COVID-19 pandemic, hygiene and safety became paramount concerns for consumers worldwide. Our client, a global leader in consumer goods, identified that one of their reusable electronic consumer products might require enhanced hygiene features. While previous usage patterns had not raised concerns, the heightened awareness around cleanliness prompted a need for greater reassurance and visible hygiene improvements.
To address this challenge, the client approached 42 Technology to explore innovative solutions that could enhance the hygiene of their reusable electronic devices. The goal was not only to identify new hygiene solutions but also to understand user perceptions and develop concepts that would reassure customers about the safety of their products.
The challenge: ensuring hygiene without compromising user experience
The client sought to develop a range of concepts that would enhance hygiene in their reusable electronic devices while maintaining the product’s ease of use. The project had several key objectives:
- Understanding user concerns – Capturing consumer perceptions about hygiene in reusable electronic devices.
- Exploring technology solutions – Researching existing and emerging hygiene technologies.
- Creating practical, manufacturable concepts – Ensuring feasibility within existing production processes.
- Enhancing customer confidence – Delivering solutions that reassured consumers without adding unnecessary complexity.
The challenge lay in balancing these factors while maintaining a premium user experience and ensuring that any innovation aligned with existing brand identity and manufacturing capabilities.
What we did
Our approach to the project was structured and insight-driven, beginning with an extensive research phase.
We conducted user journey mapping to understand how consumers interacted with reusable electronic devices and surveyed consumers to assess their perceptions of hygiene and cleanliness.
This research was complemented by a deep dive into existing hygiene technologies, including antimicrobial coatings, UV sterilisation, and self-cleaning materials.
With these insights, we facilitated a structured innovation workshop with the client, where we explored a range of potential solutions. Concepts were developed, assessed for feasibility, and refined based on technical and user experience considerations.
At the mid-point of the project, we presented our findings, mapping out the most promising technologies and their potential integration into the product line. The client then selected a shortlist of concepts for further development, which were refined into detailed product recommendations and next-step strategies.
Results for our client
By the end of the project, 42 Technology delivered a suite of well-researched, practical concepts designed to enhance the hygiene of reusable electronic devices.
These included:
User reassurance features – Concepts that provided visible indicators of hygiene, increasing consumer confidence in product safety.
Hygiene-enhancing materials – Investigating coatings and materials that reduce bacterial and viral contamination.
Integrated cleaning solutions – Exploring self-sanitising technologies to keep devices cleaner for longer.
The project provided the client with a comprehensive understanding of hygiene perception in their category and a clear set of technology-driven solutions to address consumer concerns.
Why 42 Technology? Expert-led, insight-driven innovation
The client valued 42 Technology’s ability to combine rigorous consumer research with technical innovation. By blending human factors expertise with in-depth technology assessment, we delivered not just ideas, but actionable, commercially viable solutions.
Our structured approach ensured that all recommendations were rooted in real consumer concerns, making them not only innovative but also meaningful to end users. As a result, the client gained a clear path forward for integrating hygiene-focused features into their product range, reinforcing trust in their brand and meeting the evolving expectations of their customers.