By admin
28th September 2009.
08:47
Last week I got in touch with Martin, one of our designers working on the user interface in Satio. He and his colleagues have created much of all you see in the display on Satio and he also works together with the people designing the hardware of course. I asked him a couple of questions and together we created the text below to start off with. However I know that you’ll have a lot of questions for him so just hit the comments box below and get it started 
Martin – who are you?
I love photography, but perhaps even more, I love rock and roll. I have been playing in bands, touring, and releasing records latest 17 years. The dynamics, team work, sense of beauty and the whole experience of composing, performing and enjoying music is probably the ground for my interest in all kinds of designs. Oh, by the way I work as the Creative Producer at Sony Ericssons User Experience Creative Design Center, puh thats a long name for a design center, but I guess it describes pretty well what is is.
What has been your role in the design work with Satio?
I work as a Design Producer specialized in Interface Design, and me and my colleagues have made all the UI design for Satio, but also for Aino and Yari. Even if there is a lead designer we always work as a group since there are many valuable insights and experience to be shared across different models. Especially when we see these three product somewhat as a family with three distinct characters. Beside always seeing to the humanistic approach to what we do we really care for consistent design decisions. Consistency, if correctly used in design results in recognition and ease of use.
How do you interact with those responsible for the hardware design?
Good question. Interface design is about creating an efficient, simple, easy-to-use and beautiful user interface that enhances the overall experience. This experience is, or could be, nothing worth if it doesn’t play along with the lines of the hardware, the functions and the beauty build into the object. We work closely together with colleagues specialized in industrial design, color material and packaging design. All these designs together create a lasting and enjoyable experience. From thinking of getting a new Sony Ericsson device through buying it, unpacking, the firsts start to every day usage and handling – all these steps, and even more in details, are thought of with the user as base, that is what we design – the experience.
From a user perspective the distinction between hardware and software is not always that relevant. We have an approach that we call “human centric design” which means that the interface and the hardware must work in symbiosis. It you take the camera on the Satio as an example, the combination of an active lens cover and a touch interface is a key aspect of the camera capability. It allows the user a quick access to take pictures. The moment is KING.
What has been the most fun working with Satio?
To work with such a screen, a 3.5 inch nHD touchscreen, and in combination with the S60 platform. This provides great opportunities to work on the user interface and the user experience. I believe that not only communication drives entertainment and vice versa, but also actually browsing the phone, flipping between pictures and media files, is entertainment in itself. This is something we have tried to bring with us all along the deign process. Getting “there” should be as fun as being “there”.
We also enjoyed working with this platform giving us designers, throgh the features of touch and good performance, an opportunity to get more of our dreams into the phone.
What has been the most challenging?
The great screen has in fact also been a challenge. The screen capacity provides numerous possibilities and opportunities and it is important to focus on the right things and leverage on this. It is not about putting in all that is possible, it is a about the right focus and making the right choices and how different features interacts. This is a tricky and exiting job, you must understand and know the primary target group very well. We know that there will always be users that wish a slightly different functions or designs in the phone, and they are always right, from their perspective. But to reach out to the primary target group we must be focused, knowledgeable of the groups needs and determent in our designs.
From where did you get inspiration in the design work with Satio?
From media, music and entertainment consumption in general. Using on the phone should be a media experience in itself, like watching a movie on the cinema. You should not think that you are actually browsing on a mobile phone. And here Sony Ericsson’s specific media interface and the classic media bar is key to the experience.
I am an keen photographer my self, I have worked as a photographer freelancing during a short period of time, today I focus my creativity in my work with Sony Ericsson devices as a designer, but I do care a lot of photography. The latest engagement is as one of the judges in Sony Ericssons Smile Hunt, take a look and feel free to contribute with your pix!http://www.sonyericsson.com/smileshutter/Flash/main.html?cc=gb&lc=en
