e
Aftermarket designers seem to love undoing Apple's minimalism
It's weird that we have a kind of push-pull thing going on in the product design world today, particularly with gadgets, where a manufacturer renders something minimal, then aftermarket guys bulk it up.
Apple products are often the targets here. Four examples:The iPad and the ClamCase:
The iPhone 3G and Oakley's case, or the iPhone 4 and the ElementCASE Vapor:
And this latest one by Combine Collective, which takes Apple's Bluetooth Keyboard and Trackpad and drops it into a Black Walnut tray:
What do you think, is this a case of the manufacturer undershooting and the aftermarket guys overshooting, or do you simply prefer one over the other?
-
oFavorite This
-
Q16Comment
Directory Company Profiles
Core77
Industrial Design
Resources
Industrial Design
Resources
-
Core77 Directory
Find the Best Industrial Design CompaniesGo -
DesignThink
DesignThink is known for generating highly effective and impactful design outcomes that generate the...
-
AmmunitionFounded in 2007, Ammunition is led by partners Robert Brunner and Matt Rolandson. Our work is create...
-
Agncy Design
Using design as a tool to reduce structural inequity. We work with teams and leaders to make the equ...
-
Acorn Product Development
Acorn Product Development is based in Silicon Valley with design centers in Boston, Denver, Los Ange...
-
SGW Designworks
We create hardware that endures. SGW Designworks is focused on the engineering and design of ...
-
Pulse Design Group
Pulse Design Group is an award-winning product design and innovation consultancy located in Los Ange...
-
Evolve Collaborative
We are an independently owned design agency that helps teams drive change. Together, we partner wit...
K
{Welcome
Create a Core77 Account
Already have an account? Sign In
By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use
K
Reset Password
Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.
Comments
"I couldn't help but notice that you are only referring to the casing of the iPhone. What about the software?"
I could be wrong, but I believe this entire discussion revolves around the physical-- the tangible. Cases, keyboards, cutouts... do they belong? Maybe not, but isn't that up to the user to modify their experience how they please?
further @ Apaque
"And is it me or are there not plenty of other companies creating phones equally as fragile?"
Again, I think that was the point of this discussion-- the use of the apple products was just a convenient example.
Finally @ Apaque (and I hate to pick, but you raised a lot of points that require response)
"Also, what is wrong with simply putting a case on the iPhone? Surely if you can afford it, you can afford a case for it."
This plays right into the focus of this article-- Should "Just put a case on it" be the answer? Are these shortcomings? It seems your answer might indicate yes, despite what you initially made your position out to be.
@ Get Off My Lawn
"Putting a case around a cell phone is an abomination to the field of industrial design."
How is it a slap in the face to industrial designers for a user to use a case or mod something--- try and tell me that you think that any product in the world is absolutely perfect for everyone as-is. Our focus as designers could range anywhere from the custom individual client level to mass produced millions-of-units-sold scope. Look at design classics-- they're icons of their time and even still applicable in many cases, but they're certainly not perfect, and tastes change. The fact that someone is taking what you've done and making it their own should almost be taken as a compliment. Why is unintended use such a terrible thing? (disclaimer, not counting when it's physically dangerous or irresponsible in a life-threatening manner)
also @ Get Off My Lawn
"If you buy an elegant phone you should have an elegant lifestyle, free of hard surfaces, water, and extreme temperatures."
This seems improbable at best. Granted, I only know a limited few individuals who are living in a rubber room with champagne flutes and an iphone. Even the most luxurious executive could drop a phone on the concrete/asphalt getting in or out of his limousine, or could spill caviar in just the perfect way to soil something elegant. That's part of consumer purchases-- not so much what you are, but what you desire to be, what you want, who you are beyond your physical self... If everyone only bought what fit them as-is on a need based decision-making process, luxury goods wouldn't sell, high end electronics would be such a small market segment, and jeans would only be made for construction workers. That sounds like terrible. I like my casual blue jeans and too-much computing power for my day-to-day activities.
I LOVE the premise for this article-- what's seen as an improvement to some might not be to others. It's freedom of choice, and if someone will buy it you can be sure that someone will make it and sell it. It's a perfect case of unintentional use and misdirected designs. Is this an attack on apple? No, I have no idea how that became the focus. Look past the example for the root of the issue being presented here.
Get Off My Lawn, you said it well at the end of your post, despite the rest that seemed misguided:
"I guess the design question is how do you make something that can be customizable, durable, and maintain a certain brand aesthetic?" My initial response is to have the same company and design team ride a project through to the creation of accessories and beyond; and I sincerely doubt that will happen for the companies making such products-- It's not worth that team or individual's time. Hence, the market segment being filled by 3rd party accessory designer/manufacturers. It's a necessary evil, I suppose.
I only say the cell phone case is an abomination because the designers neglected most of everyday life to make room for style.
However, I think consumers will buy into this utopian dream and protect the product and what it stands for. No one wants a scratch on their phone, a ding, a stain or any other superficial blemish ( I think Apple has approached this problem better than other companies with the use of authentic materials as opposed to painted plastics). So they'll buy security for it, but at the same time cover up they elegance they pined for in the first place.
On the other hand, the phone is expected to attract many different users through function and form. Some may be pulled more towards the function and less by the form. So people will manipulate the form with a skin or a modification. This allows people to customize the function to better suit their needs or express their individualism and feel like they have something more original than their friend.
I guess the design question is how do you make something that can be customizable, durable, and maintain a certain brand aesthetic?
No need for a mouse to push around. Just put the keyboard/touch pad cluster in your lap.
(will make one of juniper)
Some mentioned the "inviting" of after market ad-ons by the original manufacturers. I don't know the initial intent by the apple designers, but with iPhone 4 it seems that the apple team put the bumper out there to control or show the after market ad on industry a best case scenario for a well made case.
The other point was the after market from the UI point of view.
We all download apps, some of which include worst case scenario interfaces and wallpapers that add noise to the experience.
In both cases, after market ad-ons allow me to live with myself even though I have the same phone as every mom, dad, and child.
I couldn't help but notice that you are only referring to the casing of the iPhone. What about the software? Did they completely neglect the user's intended use when they designed the UI???? It just might be that people care a whole lot more about what the phone can do than simply what its wrapped in.
And I highly doubt that the #1 company in the world does not understand exactly what they are doing when they designed the iPhone's exterior in all "shiny" materials. Think about what the materials they select convey, QUALITY!!! The presentation of this product catches the consumers attention, and it vastly differentiates them from their competitors. Apple made a conscious decision to disregard the typical materials used on a typical phone, and judging by their sales I'd say it was a good decision. And is it me or are there not plenty of other companies creating phones equally as fragile? Also, what is wrong with simply putting a case on the iPhone? Surely if you can afford it, you can afford a case for it. Other than the environmental repercussions of manufacturing all the electronic accessories what is your problem with Apple jump starting the growth of this market? OMG apple forced the electronic accessory market to grow!! run for the hills!
The iPad case in particular seems to be because of Apple undershooting. The iPad has no stand built in and is an item that people will spend hours watching movies or reading books on. Holding it in your hands or leaving it flat doesn't cut it. I know they love simplicity, but simplicity without taking ease of use into account is foolish.
I have an iPhone 3GS. I bought a case for it because I wanted to protect it in case of drops. I wasn't convinced it was durable enough on its own and it's not cheap. I also felt it was too small and thin to hold on its own--and I'm a girl with smallish hands. I felt it needed some heft.
I know someone who bought the iPhone 4 and in her first few days dropped the phone and had this huge hideous crack on the back. That phone is not durable at all and does need a case. In addition to the reception issues due to the antenna design flaw, this is definitely a case of Apple undershooting.
What happens to the existence of the original design intent on these products? What happens with the effort the original designers made to perfect their vision?
Some accessories are able to amplify the core product experience to the new level without disturb it's purest means, while many of them fail miserably. Because the product is small or minimal, does not mean it's inviting others to use it as a creative canvas.
/me goes to carve up his desk...
come on, a cell phone made of glass? (i don't care how durable, its still glass)
then there was the bumper give away, which is basically telling the user, our products don't function in stock form.
the consumer electronic accessory market barely existed before apple got big. but there constant lack of understanding on how users interact with there products has forced one to grow.