The Conceptual 'Companion' Smartphone is Intentionally Simple
Michael Hemsworth — January 21, 2021 — Tech
References: yankodesign
The smartphone has become an indispensable tool for staying connected but is known for its addictive properties that can be a distraction from tasks at hand, so the conceptual 'Companion' smartphone is designed to help offer a solution. Conceptualized by Joseph Burrell, the smartphone features a miniature, palm-sized design that has an e-ink display and will not tempt the user with notifications that need to be checked throughout the day. The device features a camera system for snapping photos, an earpiece and microphone for taking calls, and an air quality sensor.
The conceptual 'Companion' smartphone was explained further by Burrell who said, "An exploration into current forms and features of products similar to the function of the smartphone helped evaluate the more important aspects of their designs. Soft forms reminiscent of pebbles evoked a more natural and organic feel. After playing with five forms and narrowing it down, a combination of sketching, rapid CAD, card and foam prototyping, and visualization techniques were used to finalize the overall form of the product and its most prominent features."
The conceptual 'Companion' smartphone was explained further by Burrell who said, "An exploration into current forms and features of products similar to the function of the smartphone helped evaluate the more important aspects of their designs. Soft forms reminiscent of pebbles evoked a more natural and organic feel. After playing with five forms and narrowing it down, a combination of sketching, rapid CAD, card and foam prototyping, and visualization techniques were used to finalize the overall form of the product and its most prominent features."
Trend Themes
1. Notification-free Smartphones - The concept of simplifying the smartphone's features offers disruptive innovation opportunities in smartphone design by creating unique user experiences.
2. Miniature Smartphone Design - Shifting from larger smartphone designs to palm-sized ones offers disruptive innovation opportunities to smartphone makers by introducing new market segments and potentially reducing production costs.
3. Natural and Organic-inspired Smartphone Design - Taking inspiration from natural forms for smartphone designs offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the mobile technology industry by enhancing user experience through aesthetics and ergonomics.
Industry Implications
1. Mobile Technology - The rise of notification-free and natural/organic-inspired smartphone designs offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the mobile technology industry that can influence new product formulations, potentially shifting business models and expanding market possibilities.
2. Manufacturing - The shift towards smaller smartphone designs and simpler features offers disruptive innovation opportunities in smartphone manufacturing by increasing efficiency and reducing production costs.
3. User Experience Design - Innovation opportunities in natural and organic-inspired smartphone designs aim at enhancing user experience, which can potentially affect the development of customer-centric mobile technology and product designing.
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