Samsung
Product Innovation Team
I served as a key team member on the Samsung Product Innovation Team (PIT), contributing to the entire spectrum of activities involved in envisioning and developing future product concepts that cater to consumer needs. My skill set encompasses disciplined execution, creativity, effective organizational and time management, as well as technical proficiency throughout the complete product development lifecycle.
Additionally, I provided essential hardware and front-end development expertise as part of the Innovation Execution team, a dynamic group focused on delivering prototypes and content for the Product Innovation team. I have also excelled in project management, overseeing multiple projection-mapping setups and a large immersive space featuring 95 LED displays. A highlight of my responsibilities involves expertly managing the UX Zone, a 2000 sq. ft. demo space designed for presenting projects to Samsung Executives.
PIT
One of my notable contributions includes playing a pivotal role in designing and launching Samsung's Smart Fridge, known as the "Family Hub."
Family Hub Refrigerator
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Samsung aimed to increase their display sales and enhance their footprint in the Smart Home sector. As a member of the Product Innovation Team, my colleagues and I delved into researching the potential central hub of a Smart Home. Following extensive months of research and collaborative brainstorming, we identified the kitchen as the primary gathering space for family members. Through numerous prototype iterations, brainstorming sessions, and design refinements, we successfully presented our prototype to stakeholders and subsequently introduced it to a global audience.
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As one of the team’s designers, I contributed to the launch of Family Hub by Samsung in Spring 2016. This premium refrigerator boasts a 21″ interactive touchscreen, integrated interior cameras, and a mobile app, marking Samsung's debut in the realm of smart kitchen appliances. The View Inside mobile app empowers users to conveniently access their refrigerators while shopping or planning meals on the move. With features like pan and zoom functionalities, item tagging, and note-sharing for household members, Family Hub redefines the kitchen experience.
Additional Project Work - Mobile App
The primary objective was to create a seamless and intuitive user experience that significantly enhances food management functionalities within the refrigerator. This entailed leveraging advanced design principles, user-centered methodologies, and technological expertise to ensure the successful fusion of aesthetics and functionality.
Through a dedicated mobile app, users gain convenient access to refrigerator images, enabling them to track timelines and item quantities effortlessly. Moreover, the app goes beyond basic monitoring by providing personalized recipe recommendations based on the refrigerator's inventory, adding a smart and intuitive dimension to the user experience.
The integration of a camera within a specialized "weatherstrip" optimally utilizes pre-existing French door hardware components and electrical wiring, effectively reducing manufacturing costs. This innovative approach not only streamlines production but also enhances functionality.
Home Light Audio Platform
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As part of the design team tasked with innovating Samsung's product offerings, we were presented with a challenge: consumers express passion and excitement when discussing music, yet discussions about speakers often become mired in technical jargon. Additionally, consumers find it challenging to determine the optimal placement for premium speakers in their homes. In response to this, my team was commissioned by Samsung to create a product that would not only demystify the technical aspects of speakers but also boost sales for these audio devices within home environments.
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Consumers exhibit a profound understanding of orchestrating lighting in their living spaces, recognizing its resonance with emotional experiences akin to sound. Introducing Aurora, a groundbreaking visual audio product that seamlessly merges the worlds of lighting and sound. The design, featuring domestic soft fabric materials, resembles an elegant lamp, fostering a harmonious blend with home decor. An innovative capacitive touch strip enhances the user experience, allowing for magical and intuitive interaction.
Adjusting lighting levels and colors is effortlessly achieved by a simple swipe on the side of the strip. Aurora empowers users to set different moods by synchronizing music and light, transforming their spaces into immersive environments filled with both captivating sound and luminosity. The final concept ingeniously integrates the existing audio hardware from Samsung’s 360 speaker, ensuring cost-effectiveness in the new product design.
Two additional concepts expand upon this approach, incorporating the same hardware in their designs. This strategic utilization not only maintains cost efficiency but also ensures a cohesive and streamlined integration of advanced audio capabilities into the innovative visual audio experience.
I was in charge of constructing the prototype and meticulously bringing the envisioned concept to life. I designed the accompanying mobile app, ensuring a seamless and user-friendly interface for enhanced speaker control and interaction. My responsibilities extended to shaping the overall speaker experience, working tirelessly to create a product that not only met but exceeded user expectations, ultimately contributing to the success of the project.
Double-Sided Furniture Display
An innovative initiative aimed at reshaping the traditional television landscape and redefining the role of displays within the home environment. Acknowledging the evolving dynamics of content consumption, we recognized a crucial gap in the market—television had yet to transcend its video-centric limitations. Contrary to attributing the decline of TV solely to the rise of mobile viewing, our data analysis revealed a nuanced reality: while people still predominantly consume content on TV, the total screen time on non-TV devices has surpassed that of traditional television.
Our solution centered around the development of a groundbreaking concept that caters to a fresh set of demands emerging in the realm of home entertainment. This forward-thinking approach addressed three key aspects: identifying a new location within the home, exploring novel input methods, and creating transformative experiences for users. By challenging the status quo and embracing these innovative elements, our concept aimed not only to revitalize the role of the television in households but also to cater to the evolving preferences and behaviors of modern consumers. The project embodies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of conventional design, ultimately paving the way for a new era in home entertainment.