Illy Assistant
Overview
01design partnered with Illy Caffè to develop a prototype multimodal conversational interface that lets users explore products, discover brewing tips, and receive personalized coffee recommendations through voice and visual interaction. Connected via IoT to a next-generation coffee machine, the app turns coffee preparation into a seamless dialogue between human senses and intelligent technology.
Deliverables
UI/UX Design
Mobile App iOS & Android
AI Multimodal Agent
Video
In the pursuit of blending craftsmanship with innovation, Illy envisioned a new way to experience coffee - one that listens, understands, and responds. The prototype transforms the act of ordering and brewing into a personalized ritual, where voice becomes the natural interface and the system learns from taste, mood, and context. 01design shaped this experience by uniting aesthetic refinement, intuitive interaction, and the emotional depth that defines the Illy brand.
Challenges
The challenge was to humanize advanced technology - integrating voice recognition, personalized preferences, and remote IoT control - without losing Illy’s signature warmth and simplicity. The early technical prototypes felt efficient but cold. We needed to design a multimodal experience that felt sensorial, elegant, and emotionally engaging, turning complex functions into gestures of pleasure.
Solution
We designed a multimodal ecosystem where users interact naturally through speech, touch, and visual cues. The app suggests blends, remembers preferences, and guides preparation step by step - while the connected coffee machine responds instantly to voice commands. Every element, from tone of voice to motion design, expresses Illy’s dedication to quality and beauty. The result: an interface that doesn’t just take orders - it understands desires.
Innovation Team
lly Caffè
