ID-Designed Zenblen Smoothie Kiosks Expand Across Chicago
May 19, 2025
When ID students first collaborated with Zenblen in 2019, they set out to design a user-centered smoothie machine that provided not only nutritious drinks but also a welcoming and intuitive experience. That vision is now expanding across Chicago.
Zenblen recently installed a new machine at the University of Chicago’s Regenstein Library. This machine—like all Zenblen kiosks—builds on the initial prototype developed in Marty Thaler’s product design workshop.
As Zenblen grows, the company maintains its connection to ID, engaging Marty as an advisor and hiring many UX interns from ID over the years.
Dan Bernacki, Zenblen Director of Engineering, with Marty Thaler in Zenblen's production space at NuWay Industries, Chicago
The partnership between Zenblen and ID was made possible through mHUB, a startup incubator focused on product innovation. Since 2017, Marty and his students have provided design services to some of mHub’s most promising ventures.
This spring, the Zenblen kiosk was showcased at the mHUB Hardtech Summit, which explores advancements in smart manufacturing, sustainability, and other innovations in physical products. At the Summit, Zenblen announced a new manufacturing partnership with Nu-Way Industries, which is helping to build kiosks right here in Chicago.
In addition to the University of Chicago, Zenblen kiosks are available at several locations around Chicago, including Northwestern University, DePaul University, Rush University, and the MHub Innovation Center.
As the machines reach more users across the city, they offer a seamless blend of physical and digital design shaped by ID’s user-centered approach.