Modern Hookah Design
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The Challenge
Designing a modern hookah meant rethinking traditional shisha rituals while preserving familiarity, emotion, and the authentic smoking experience users expect. The challenge was to simplify setup, improve safety, and make the hookah truly portable without losing its essence.
Research Driven Electric Hookah Innovation
Analogy began by mapping the electric hookah market through detailed market and user analysis. Competitive benchmarking and technical teardown studies helped identify limitations in existing portable hookah and electronic hookah products. Insights from user personas and usage scenarios informed product roadmapping, interface logic, and HMI decisions, ensuring Zook delivered performance, stability, and intuitive interaction in a compact electric hookah format.
Zook is a portable electric hookah designed in 2021 for the United Kingdom market, redefining modern hookah design through technology and user centric thinking.
A clean, charcoal free hookah experience built for speed, safety, and simplicity.
Zook partnered closely with the Analogy Design team to translate complex technology into a visually striking and approachable product. Industrial design focused on balancing glass aesthetics with durable internal architecture, while user experience design ensured every interaction felt intuitive. From magnetic latching to electric coil heating, every decision was driven by usability, performance, and long term reliability.The design process extended beyond form into interface and interaction. Analogy developed a tactile dial based control system, integrated LED feedback, and clear visual semantics inspired by traditional hookah rituals. Through iterative prototyping and testing, the portable electric hookah evolved into a stable, user friendly device that feels both familiar and futuristic.
Read more: How to Invent an Idea that can truly Wow!
The problem
Constant Coal Refills
Traditional hookahs require frequent coal replenishment, interrupting the experience and demanding constant attention. Managing ignition, heat levels, and ash reduces convenience and makes sessions time intensive and inconsistent.
Be guided through the whole process, from first concept through to market-ready product with success.
Constant Coal Refills
Traditional hookahs require frequent coal replenishment, interrupting the experience and demanding constant attention. Managing ignition, heat levels, and ash reduces convenience and makes sessions time intensive and inconsistent.
Harmful Carcinogens
Charcoal based hookahs release carcinogens, smoke residue, and airborne particles during combustion. These emissions impact indoor air quality and raise health concerns, especially for users seeking a cleaner and safer hookah experience.
Be guided through the whole process, from first concept through to market-ready product with success.
Harmful Carcinogens
Charcoal based hookahs release carcinogens, smoke residue, and airborne particles during combustion. These emissions impact indoor air quality and raise health concerns, especially for users seeking a cleaner and safer hookah experience.
Difficult Cleaning Process
Conventional hookah components are hard to wash and maintain over time. Residue buildup, fragile glass parts, and water exposure reduce durability and increase long term maintenance effort.
Be guided through the whole process, from first concept through to market-ready product with success.
Difficult Cleaning Process
Conventional hookah components are hard to wash and maintain over time. Residue buildup, fragile glass parts, and water exposure reduce durability and increase long term maintenance effort.
A charcoal free, portable electric hookah engineered for clean performance, instant readiness, and long term durability through modern hookah design.
Analogy applied industrial design, UX design, HMI, and prototyping to redefine how an electric hookah should function and feel.
By replacing coal combustion with electrically heated coils, Zook eliminates replenishment cycles and harmful smoke emissions. USB C charging enables faster readiness while consistent heat delivery improves flavor and session control. The magnetic latching system simplifies assembly, allowing users to set up and dismantle the portable electric hookah with minimal effort.Durability and washability were addressed through thoughtful material selection, sealed component architecture, and a stable anti slip base. Analogy validated ergonomics, stability, and mechanical reliability through multiple prototype iterations. This approach ensured Zook performs reliably while remaining easy to clean and maintain over time.
Learn more about DFM & Manufacturing Readiness.
Key features
A portable electric hookah that proves modern hookah design can be safer, simpler, and emotionally engaging.
Where tradition meets technology through thoughtful product design.
Zook demonstrates how electric hookah products can evolve beyond imitation into meaningful innovation. By focusing on user experience, digital interaction, and human machine interaction, Analogy transformed a legacy product into a contemporary device. Features such as LED feedback, puff responsive lighting, and intuitive dial controls preserve ritual while enhancing control. The result is an electric hookah that feels familiar yet forward looking.As the hookah industry shifts toward portable, charcoal free solutions, Zook sets a benchmark for design led innovation. Analogy’s end to end approach ensures products are scalable, manufacturable, and aligned with modern user expectations.
Read more: The Ultimate Guide on Product Prototyping.
Sandeep Balaji
Founder & Angel Investor, IncrementumX
“Brilliant bunch of folks who understand design really really well. And most important are receptive and fun to work with!”
Average Return on Investment Through Product Path™
250%
Average ROI
$2M
Total Funds Raised
89
Projects Funded Successfully
23+
global design awards
21
different Industries
01
Indian studio
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