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Industrial Designer Phil Saunders Explains Design of Unusual ASUS Tablet Carry System

Re-thinking how we use portable devices

By Rain Noe - April 7, 2023

in Tech | UX

Industrial designer Phil Saunders has an enviable career; he cut his teeth at Nissan, then branched out and worked on everything from videogames to theme parks to concept designs for Hollywood (he designed multiple suits for Iron Man, among other Marvel properties).

Image: Phil Saunders

Now he's designed a wild-looking gaming tablet created in collaboration between computer manufacturer ASUS and German fashion brand Acronym.

Called the ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02--seriously--it features a detachable keyboard (I assume it's detachable, weirdly ASUS doesn't say), a kickstand that can be used in both portrait and landscape orientation, and most notably an "integrated carry system" of straps that can be used to carry it or interact with it while it's slung in front of you.

"We added integrated grips so it can be held securely in any position, as well as robust corner bumpers so you don't need to slap a plastic case on it save yourself from cracked screen anxiety," Saunders writes. "The chassis itself is CNC machined to show the honest beauty of the material, with milled light-weighting forms and laser-etched graphics by the always enigmatic Raf Rennie."

"[I] was thinking in terms of function, what it is, what it does, what it can do, and what are the possibilities," Saunders told IGN India, breaking down how he came up with the idea for the carry system.

"When you think about a device that's portable nowadays, you think of something that you use, and then you put it in a bag, and then you take it with that bag to another place, and then you may use it there again. What we wanted was to get rid of that intermediate interface, that's a limiting idea, a legacy idea from the old way in which people used portable devices."

"I think people are far more flexible in the way that they use things now. We're used to walking while we're surfing the web or doing whatever on our phones, so why not be able to do that with a much more powerful device. So to eliminate this idea, that in transit it's packaged away, and to make the device its own bag, is what drove the idea of using those corner elements as the anchor points for a strap system."

"[It's in] keeping with ACRONYM's prime motivator which is giving the user agency. It's taking the user from limiting the way that they think about their device by having it in a bag, to now it's on them. If they want to use it while they're walking, they just flip it over and put it in producer mode and there they have it. So whether you use that or not, it's giving you that opportunity, and that is rewiring your brain into a new way of interacting with a device like this."

Saunders is quick to share credit; while he conceived of the carry system, he points out that the straps themselves were "designed by our good friend, rock star and all around renaissance man Brandon Smith, AKA The Anix."

Demand has been strong; at press time the ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02, which retails for $2,500, was sold out.

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Michael DiTullo

a year ago

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I think someone might have watched Ghost In the Shell too many times 🤣

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Matthew Selnick

a year ago

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I always love when product photography tries to show off a feature but fails to actually capture if it’s useful - i’m not convinced that someone would use a stylus if the photo is showing someone shopping for clothing. If it’s meant to be an over the top tablet for gaming why didn’t they show it being used for gaming on the go?

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Gaston Barouille

a year ago

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Last picture shows how useful is that use case....How could you access to the bottom of the screen? Maybe they have to sell this product with some kind of clothing kit :D . Many designers are sooo snob and out of reality/lack of market touch that ends doing waist tables for your "in fly lunch" than real innovative devices. Looks like Mr. Saunders went to a mold factory not long time ago and discovered this "amazing and innovative style". Let's see how many customers will stick with this ;P . I guess he couldn't go wrong, after all he is an incredible and famous designer..... This world went totally crazy....I can't believe the amount of money that ASUS put on this. Who will pay for all of this? Are this kind of products profitable?

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Karl Hungus

a year ago

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Hey Core77 webguy, can we get a darkmode for this site? thanks

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