Bloom is a multipurpose kettle that uses the excess steam for a range of activities that educate children about food preparation and kitchen chores. The product won this year's Electrolux Design Lab competition, which ran under the theme Healthy Happy Kids.

Created by British designer Jordan Lee Martin, the concept features a tapered central kettle surrounded by three pods fitted to the base hub. The efficient design channels the steam produced while boiling water into these pods, which are used for different functions such as steam cooking, propagating plants, air purifying or dishwashing. Enclosing the produced water vapour in this way reduces the energy and water wasted by reusing the steam, while also preventing children from burning themselves for safer involvement in kitchen tasks.

The pods are controlled either on the kettle hub or via a smart device. An accompanying app serves as an educational tool for children, running through the household tasks that can be achieved using Bloom, and providing complementary games and challenges that relate to each pod. The model combines digital and practical learning for a safe, engaging approach suited to kids who often learn best by doing.

Smart appliances are becoming increasingly popular in the kitchen, creating more efficient, streamlined experiences that can be controlled from anywhere – see Kitchen of the Future for further insight. For more on new education methods that integrate technology, see The Future of Learning.