The Philips Gesture Controller was a blue-sky concept design meant to showcase an innovative (within a probable 3-5 years time frame) solution to the conventional TV remote control. It incorporates the use of gestures and injects an element of fun for users.
As this was a self-exploration exercise, I planned the entire project from brief to concept. I conducted desk and field research, analysized my findings, and conceptualized the new design experience. Through this project, I learned how to create a business case and how to better sell design concepts and proposals
Through desk research, I created a matrix landscape to group the various types of controllers and to identify emerging themes. I also conducted a field research to get first-hand experience with the latest models of controllers on the market, as well as to understand their functions and features.
I created three distinct design directions after analyzing the research data. I then combined these design directions with trend and technology forecasts from different industry particularly from the booming mobile and gaming sector.
Incorporating the approach taken by Geoffrey Moore in his product lifecycle chart, I mapped user groups and their characteristics. With this user profile map, I identified the target group of users for the redesigned controller concept.
I created two design concepts that uses different interaction models. The first concept, inspired by the Apple iPhone 3G,
leveraged the TV as a monitor screen - where all controls and interface elements are displayed , thus eliminating the need for
physical number pads and least-used feature buttons.
The second concept took the fun element from the Nintendo Wii and placed it into the TV controller: to control the TV, users
had to perform hand movements and gestures.
This project landed me an interview and job offer with Philips Design Hong Kong (an offer that, unfortunately, I had to reject for
personal reasons).
