The Henri is a box designed by studio and brand Method that is supposed to help designers create screenless user interfaces. As more and more connected home products come out, people are communicating with objects in new ways. However, not everything has a screen, which proposes challenges to designers.
Developed as a replacement to smart home innovations like Nest, Henri has two brushed steel knobs that let designers experiment with the ambient elements of interfaces, like sound and light. This invention is necessary because this industry is very much a new frontier in an experimental period of trial and error without best practices in place. Daniel Nacamuli raises the point "what happens when you have all these connected objects in your house that all communicate with their users differently?"
Experimental Interface Tools
Henri by Method Helps Designers Make User Interfaces Without Screens
Trend Themes
1. Screenless Interfaces - The Henri box is an example of a tool that helps designers create screenless interfaces, which is a growing trend as people interact with objects in new ways.
2. Ambient Elements - With the Henri box, designers can experiment with ambient elements like sound and light in their interface designs, showcasing a trend towards incorporating multi-sensory experiences.
3. Connected Objects - The challenge of designing interfaces for connected objects in homes is a trend that requires innovative solutions, as seen in the need for tools like the Henri box.
Industry Implications
1. Smart Home - The smart home industry can benefit from the disruptive innovation opportunity of creating screenless interfaces and experimenting with ambient elements for their products.
2. Product Design - The product design industry can embrace the trend of screenless interfaces and ambient elements, using tools like the Henri box to explore new design possibilities.
3. Internet of Things - Designing interfaces for connected objects in the Internet of Things industry requires innovative solutions like screenless interfaces, making tools like the Henri box relevant.