11/02/2023

Kakao teamed up with design studio Nendo for these adorable smart home devices.

As Nendo explains, every item in the Kakao Friends Homekit (no relation to Apple HomeKit, apparently) revolves around a white bowl. The simple shape indicates that they’re part of a single platform and can be controlled with a Kakao-themed companion app. Each piece also has a silicon “icon,” according to Nendo, and a Kakao Friends-inspired color that symbolizes their function in the home. The alarm clock has a small bird that chirps in the morning, for instance, while the thermometer has a teardrop and the air purifier features two flowers. You then have the option to personalize each device with some pint-sized Kakao figures that will be sold separately.
Keep scrolling to see the full set and when they’ll be available in the US!
The Smart Scale will cost $120 and be available at the end of January. Featured characters: Muzi and Con.
The Smart Air Purifier will launch in May for $150. Featured character: Apeach.
The Smart Lamp will launch in May for $120. Featured character: Ryan.
The Smart Humidifier will launch in May for $120. Featured character: Apeach.
The Smart Alarm will launch in the fall for a yet-to-be-determined price.
The Smart Sensor Cam will launch in the fall for a yet-to-be-determined price.
The Smart Thermometer will launch later this year for a yet-to-be-determined price.
If you’re curious about the software experience, you can download the Smart Scale app for iOS and Android now. You can also get a sense of Nendo’s design process in this video interview (thanks, Yanko Design!)