Design you product based on your believe and point of view

 This January, Ubuntu had just released their new OS, to everyone surprise, its not the new desktop operating system (that they usually released in April), but this time a smartphone OS. It is still based on Ubuntu core technology and design philosophy, but tweaked and redesign to fit smartphone screen and usage pattern.

And I like to mention again about the core technology. It is important for us to select (the right) and develop our core technology (especially if you are work or own a technology company). If you doing it right, you can expand your product portfolio easily, well at least, you already has all the need to create a new product based on it. This Ubuntu case is another perfect example of having the right core technology that can be adapted and expanded into another product/form.

Anyway, I would like to talk about another thing in this share.

As you all know, today, there are so many smartphone on the market. In term of platform, today we have 3 major smartphone platform.

They are Apple iOS, Google Android and RIM Blackberry OS. But, there are other less popular platform. They are Microsoft Windows Mobile 8, Jolla Sailfish OS and of course Ubuntu.

Before moving on, lets see the home screen of these Smartphone OS/platform.

 

Jolla Sailfish OS

 

Ubuntu for smartphone

 

Windows Phone 8

 

While, we might can't get the real feel how each of the work just by seeing at the home screen, at least we can see that each of the are quite different (okay, some of them also have similar UI with the other, but we will let the lawyer deal with that).

The question is, how they could come with so many different user interface for the same product called smartphone OS/platform. And..if you want to create another one smartphone OS, how can we design another one that would compete, robust, easy to use but quite different?

Different is something that marketing guru always said all the time. But, how can we make differentiation? Just make it different from the rest?

Ok, lets find out more about our case this time.

Back to the smartphone OS/platform.I think you must already know that each of these smartphone OS/platform is come from different kind of company, with their own history, focus, core (again), previous product (some of them is not event a cellphone company) and services.

This background makes them have different point of view when considering a perfect smartphone OS. In my humble opinion, their different point of view is the main basic enabler to make different product and services for them. Their point of view is one of the main key for delivering unique product.

Lets talk about them one by one. We look again who they are, their history, main product (past or present) and their character.

Apple

Apple started as a computer/PC manufacturer. They are famous with their good quality and ease of use. Apple also known as one of a view PC manufacturer that also develop their own OS, the MacOS.

In the early 2000's, they develop a portable music player that will change the world, the iPod. But, if you closely, its not the iPod that ill change everything, for me its actually the iTunes. iTunes marks the beginning of a new era, where a hardware is closely match and tight with a special locked services system. This combination later on, will be known as an ecosystem.

In Apple case, this ecosystem (for them) is an extension of what they believe, to deliver best possible user experience and ease of use. No wonder, today we see that the iPod-iTunes ecosystem model is used in all their product, ie iPhone, iPad and even Mac PC.

Google

Google is an advertising agency that looks like a search engine company :) well, at least that is what we know right now.

I think their goals is to provide search (or we might says, information that matters, related and needed by its user) that as easy as possible, as quick as possible and as accurate as possible. And in the dawn of PC era, they try to bring "the search" to all modern computing platform.

This is why, some says, is real the reason they develop Android in the first place. To deliver search to the most personal computing platform, your smartphone or tablet, first hand without other party as a conductor (Apple launch Siri in 2011, eliminate the need for iOS devices to go to Google for any information you needed).

 

If you follow Google movement, they recently release Google Now and Google Glass. This two product will mark another step to bring related information (tailored just for you) first hand, up and center that almost automatically and feels like magic.

 

This is Google. From helping you when you want to know something, to have bring something you want to know or needed before you know it.

Blackberry (previously known as RIM)

Yes, these is the one that actually a smartphone company. And they are quite unique actually. They are among the first to offer you both the hardware (the actual cellphone) and the services (email and BBM). It something now we know in fancy world as “ecosystem”.

Blackberry core is text communication – email and bbm. Today when text based communication is available in various new medium (twitter, facebook, path, whatsapp, line etc) they embrace them. If you happen to try or have their new Z10 with Blackberry OS 10, you cloud see all the text massage is placed into one accessible interface.

 

 

In Blackberry OS 10, there is a Blackberry hub that contain all your text based communication

They also known for very good quality (physical) keyboard, something that very logical for a text based communication devices. But, in todays screen only smartphone, the need a better than the rest on screen keyboard.

 

This is what Blackberry is. this is why their product looks and behaves that way.

Microsoft

They once ruled the world with their Microsoft Windows OS and Microsoft Office while back in the PC era. Today, the world have shifted, people tend to spend more time and to do more on mobile devices such as smartphone and tablet.

For Microsoft, they think that your smartphone and tablet is a PC too, but, generally, we think a PC is that old big beige box or your heavyweight laptop. And they losing the market mindshare.

Today they try to repositioning their Windows OS to make it relevant with todays mobile devices with touchscreen trend. All that devices is a PC, but with a new kind of interaction and form factor, so they should run on top of Windows OS. They result, you can look and feel it on new Windows 8.

Jolla

Im sure almost no one know about this company. This is a new smartphone OS/platform company, build by ex Nokia engineer (that once work for Nokia killed Maemo/Meego Linux based smartphone OS) that got fired by Mr Elop (Nokia current CEO).

Guys and girls at Jolla believe in Maemo/Meego mobile Linux platform, and the Qt based core technology. So, they continues the development of the platform, and build the company for it.

 

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a company build by Mark Shuttleworth, he is a self made millionaire and private astronaut from South Africa. He found Ubuntu base on believe that Linux (or opensource software ) should be part of everyday lives. We also heard they said that Ubuntu is a Linux for human being.

It started as a Linux distribution company for server use (much more like Redhat or Suse), but along the way has transform beyond that with their own unique technology and approaches. Now they produces Linux based desktop operating system for your PC or laptop (that you can download and install for free) and offer various cloud based services.

Part of their believe that Linux is for human being and be part of our everyday lives, as of last year (if im not mistaken) Mark Shuttleworth proposed that Ubuntu will expand their presence in todays computing devices or smart devices. The first product that shows up is the Ubuntu for smart TV, then for smartphone and the last one Ubuntu for tablet.

Ubuntu will soon have OS for every new generation of computing devices, and so does Microsoft (and Blackberry too says some rumours)

Now, can we see it?

Their different point of view and believe makes them have different product for the same product.

Is this the same as differentiation?

Not quite. I think there are some similarity with the concept of “product differentiation”, only that product differentiation usually came from marketing team. They tend to look at the market, measuring, mapping,talked with people of some product good, bad and preferences. After that, they try to find a “hole” in the market, and filled it with a new product.

I don't says that this approach is bad or not working. This approach actually works for many company. But, from my limited exploration, I see that this approach usually came up with product variant (style, material or sets of feature) or try to enter a new segment (price point) for the same product.

On the other hand, the company with strong believe and have unique point of view for something, usually can came up with more original product. They can even bring a totally new kind of product that never exist before.

But of course, like all product and invention, for one to success, there are more variable that the two approach i write about. The history is full of a product that came up from the founder believe and point of view, and some of them fail, just like any other business.

So, do you have your own believe and unique point of view?

Indonesia Good Design Selection

Setelah lama vakum, atau mungkin ada cuman ga kedengeran beritanya. Tahun ini Indonesia Good Design Selection resmi diadakan kembali.

Tahun ini IGDS 2008 membuka 2 kategori :
1. KATEGORI 1 : Produk Industri Massal & telah dipasarkan
2. KATEGORI 2 : Produk Riset Desain Industri
Karya Penelitian, Pengembangan Produk, Tugas Mahasiswa
skala prototipe dan belum dipasarkan (lihat syarat).

Untuk lebih jelas, silahkan download syarat dan formulir pendaftarannya.

Syarat dan ketentuan 1
Syarat dan ketentuan 1
Formulir pendaftaran
Formulir HAKI

Pencurian karya desain Indonesia (lagi!)

Hari ini saya mendapatkan email dari temen-temen blog desain grafis Indonesia. Mereka menceritakan kejadian tidak mengenakan yang dialami Desak Suarti, seorang pengrajin perak dari Bali.

Dia menghadapi masalah hukum karena salah seorang buyernya, mematenkan karya Desak Suarti di negara asal di buyer tersebut.

Hal ini rupanya berkembang semakin luas dan menjadi keprihatinan bersama. Saat ini banyak desainer dan pengrajin di Bali yang terhambat kreatifitasnya karena kawatir hal ini terjadi pada mereka.

Anyway, sepertinya sudah ada langkah awal untuk mencegah hal ini terulang kembali. Baru-baru ini sebuah organisasi bernama Indonesian Archipelago Culture Initiatives (IACI). Saya sendiri belum mempelajarinya lebih jauh. Untuk informasi lebih jauh, silahkan kunjungi budaya-indonesia.org

Hayuk..mari sama-sama kita selamatkan karya leluhur dan kawan-kawan kita.

My profile on designspotter.com

Couple weeks ago, i posted my work on designspotter.com
Well..it don't make it to the front page (to bad, i don't send them a better, bigger photo).

Anyway, i've got my profile on designspotter. Click the link here.
So..guys..

If you are a designer, send your design to them.
See if they or the world like it

Dare?

Desainer asia di Designboom Mart Sydney

Satu hal menarik dari Designboom kali ini adalah banyaknya peserta yang berasal dari Asia. Mungkin karena dekat ya..
Mereka datang dari Thailand, India, Hong Kong, China, Korea, Jepang dan tentu saja, Indonesia :)
Dari segi jumlah, mereka mendominasi sekitar separuh lebih desainer yang memamerkan karyanya.

Selain dari jumlah, ada hal lain yang menarik jika kita perhatikan lebih jauh.
Gw dan Jeff sempat memperhatikan sambil lalu karya-karya mereka, mencoba mencari benang merah disana.
Dan memang, ternyata terasa ada ciri khas tertentu yang menjadi karakter masing-masing negara.

Hayuk, kita mulai dari korea.
Kalau dilihat dari yang datang ke Designboom Mart ini, ciri khas desainer-desainer korea adalah cenderung banyak menggunakan warna-warna ke arah putih dan pastel pada produknya. Ini terlhat dari dua designer yang datang. Keduanya sama-sama memamerkan produk berbahan dasar keramik yang dipadu dengan warna-warna tersebut.

Lain halnya dengan desainer asal China dan Hong Kong, ada sedikit sentuhan budaya China pada karya mereka. Contohnya adalah karya Catherine Mui dari Goodss Hong Kong. Dia memadukan unsur Feng Sui pada karyanya. Yang lain coba memadukan unsur teknik bordir khas China dengan grafis yang lebih modern untuk tas hasil karyanya.

India? Kalau India sudah jelas. Pemilihan warna yang berani ala fashion Bolywood nampak disini.

Bagaimana dengan Jepang?
Di event ini ada 2 desainer Jepang yang ikut serta. Nosigner dan Wakako kita. Ciri khas yang nampak? Bentuk sederhana khas jepang dan tentu saja teknik pengolahan material yang unik.

Wakako kita menampilkan Oriori, sebuah tas berbahan dasar kertas. Tapi jangan banyangkan tasnya seperti kantung berbahan kertas di McD atau tukang gorengan pinggir jalan.
Wakako menggunakan bahan kertas yang dihasilan dengan teknik pengerjaan khusus. Hasilnya adalah kertas yang kuat, tahan lama dan memiliki penampilan yang menyerupai kulit. Material yang unik ini dipadukan dengan desain sederhana yang sepertinya memiliki unsur origami, seni lipat kertas khas Jepang.

Sekarang kita lihat karya dari Nosigner. Dia adalah satu satu desainer berbakat yang sudah mendapatkan banyak publikasi atas karya-karyanya yang luar biasa.
Dalam Desainboom Mart kali ini, dia membawa tatakan piring yang cantik sekali. Tatakan piring ini diinspirasi oleh kebiasaan lama kita yang menggunakan daun sebagai alas makan. Sebagai gantinya, dia membuat tatakan piring berbentuk daun yang dihiasi guratan-guratan urat daun berwarna emas, perak atau merah metalik yang sangat cantik.
Gambar urat daun ini dibuat dengan teknik termal printing, setidaknya itu yang dia katakan kepada semua orang.

So..?
Bottom line..Desainer Asia terus berkembang dan memberikan prespektif baru yang sangat khas Asia. Prespektif ini mencoba mencari jalan lain dari desain contenporer modern yang masih dipengaruhi desain Skandinavia, Bauhaus dan lainnya yang berkiblat ke Eropa. Pastinya akan semakin menarik di tahun-tahun mendatang.

Insya Allah gw bisa ikut terus dan merasakan perubahan ini..

Desinboom mart Sydney hari 1. Power House Museum

Hari pertama !
We're so excited...

Yah, ini adalah hari pertama acara akan dilaksanakan. Oleh panitia, kita diminta datang jam 10.00 waktu setempat untuk briefing dan mempersiapkan tempat masing-masing.

Saya dan Istri tercinta datang lebih awal lagi karena Ferry, kawan kami di Sydney, hanya bisa mampir sebentar sekitar jam 9.00 karena kebetulan ada kelas pagi hari itu.
Keluar dari Wake Up! hostel tempat kami menginap, kami membuka peta, coba mencari jalan yang paling enak untuk dilalui untuk sampai kesana. Maklum, jalan kaki :)
Setelah melihat perta, akhirnya kami memutuskan untuk melewati George Street, kemudian memotong diantara bangunan-bagunan untuk menuju Harris Street, lokasi dimana Power House Museum berada.

Setelah berjalan kaki selama kurang lebih 10-15 menit (jauh juga lho, kira-kira sekitar 2-3km),kami sampai di Power House.
Bagunan ini adalah sebuah museum desain dan teknologi. Strukturnya yang dibangun menggunakan konstruksi bangunan pembangkit listrik tua.
Cukup unik dan berhasil mempertahankan bangunan lama bersejarah. Menuru gw, si arsiteknya berhasil memadukan arsitektur lama awal abad 20 dengan gaya modern dengan baik sekali.

Sampai di tempat, kami baru mengetahui, acara ternyata dilaksanakan di dalam sebuah tenda besar di teras utama Power House Museum.
Awalnya agak ragu melihatnya. Lha, pas musim dingin gini kok camping di halaman? Tapi ternyata enggak masalah, di dalam tenda cukup hangat dan tersedia penghangat ruangan.
Disini juga kami pertama kali bertemu dengan Jeff, desainer asal Bali yang baik hati :)

Tak lama kemudian, desainer-desainer yang lain mulai datang.
Acara beres-berespun segera dimulai. Kami membereskan sendiri semuanya. Dari mulai mengatur meja, menata kursi-kursi hingga membuat dekorasi sederhana.
Ya, sepertinya begini adanya di negara maju. Semua kita lakukan sendiri, mungkin karena ongkos tukang disana mahal ya. Tapi syukurlah, paling enggak, tendanya sudah terpasang. Pastinya repot toh kalau harus memasang tenda sendiri.

Di acara kali ini, kami berempat dari Indonesia menyewa 2 meja. Jadi 1 meja dibagi untuk 2 desainer. Jeff berbagi meja dengan Bayu (orsospace element) dan saya berbagai meja dengan Fitorio (Fitorio studio). Acara beres-beres kelar sekitar jam 12an. Setelah itu acara bebas, tetapi Anita dari designboom meminta kami kembali sekitar jam 16.30 karena pameran akan dibuka pukul 18.00 hari itu juga.

Nah, karena sudah kelar..saatnya untuk makan dan jalan-jalan di sekiar Darling Harbour..

Malamnya, pameran dibuka sekitar jam 18.00 waktu setempat.
Yang paling menarik adalah antusiasme masyarakat Sydney. Sebelum acara dibuka, sudah banyak sekali masyarakat yang datang.
Pihak museum sampai melayangkan komplain beberapa kali, karena pengunjung mereka terpecah perhatiannya dan masuk ke lokasi pameran yang sebenernya belum dibuka.

Dan seperti yang sudah diduga. Malam itu ramai sekali.
Puluhan orang datang ke tenda yang tidak seberapa besar itu. Mereka melihat-lihat, bertanya dan jika tertarik membeli hasil karya desain yang mereka suka.
Menyenangkan sekali..
Satu hal lagi yang menarik. Mereka sangat menghargai karya seorang desainer, bahkan yang belum mereka kenal atau belum terkenal seperti kami-kami ini.
Salah satunya adalah komentar yang saya terima dari seorang pengunjung. Dia senang dengan tas gw (dan Alhamdullilah memutuskan membeli), tapi menurut dia harganya terlalu murah.
Dia bilang, dia juga seorang desainer, dia mengusulkan kepada gw untuk menaikkan harganya agar lebih pantas sebagai sebuah karya seorang desainer.

Yah, malam itu memang menyenangkan. Kami pulang dengan hati yang bersemangat sambil berjalan kaki menuju hostel kami..