This report is about the product development of a new outer design of an air/water heat pump from the collaborative company. The purpose and goal of this report was to develop a new outer design for an air/water heat pump that gives the user an aesthetically pleasing design without disturbing the function. The limitations of the master thesis were related to the outer aesthetic design and its connection to the context of the product. This product development was conducted with the help of the potential user and the new design has been developed with the help of them to meet the customer's desires and wishes for the design of the product. To examine this, two research questions were used for this thesis, these were:

•    What are the main problems with the current design according to the user?

•    How can the outer part of the air/water heat pump be redesigned with a focus on the design and desires of the user? 

The theory in this thesis is grounded in industrial design, sustainable product design, product aesthetics, design principles, human-centered design, and Scandinavian design. These areas have been the foundation for the results and the product development. 

The result of this thesis is a deeper understanding of how the user want the air/water heat pump to be designed, along with a proposal on how their preferences can be implemented in an air/water heat pump. This, combined with the incorporation of Scandinavian design, sustainability and products functionality.  Through the survey, it was found that users were dissatisfied with the current aesthetic designs in the product segment and preferred the product to blend more seamlessly with the home making it less visible. The survey also revealed that users are willing to cover the heat pump to reduce its visibility, even if it affected functionality. This preference was further supported by the contextual inquiries, where many heat pumps were observed to be covered. These activities, in combination with the theoretical insights, and other activities in the design process, led to the conclusion that heat pumps should be more integrated with the house’s design, less conspicuous, and adaptable to various architectural styles. The project provided valuable insights into current user experiences with heat pumps and offered guidance for future product development, where form and function enhance each other.