Sensor & Step Trash Cans

Premium electromechanical hardware on a mass-market scale.

simplehuman waste bins set the standard for high-performance waste management, with features such as motion-sensor activation and robust step-pedal mechanisms housed in premium stainless steel with integrated liner storage. My role involved working across multiple SKUs in this product range, focusing on the challenge of creating reliable electromechanical mechanisms that feel effortless and premium, while ensuring they can be produced at scale and at a cost that is viable on a global level.

The mechanism was validated where it meets the hand.

The focus was on the parts that the user actually feels: the lid geometry, the step-pedal action and the sensor behaviour. I created physical prototypes to verify the scale and reliability of the mechanism, refined the CMF for retail shelves and real interiors, and resolved the architecture to ensure that each SKU could be manufactured across the range.

Shipped to the mass market and retailed globally.

These designs were brought to the mass market and are sold through major partners, including Costco, Sam's Club and Amazon.

Brand: simplehuman
Scope: ID + product development across multiple SKUs
Hardware: motion-sensor activation, step-pedal mechanism, stainless steel
Distribution: global retail via Costco, Sam's Club, Amazon