PART ONE: THE RE-DESIGN

Year: 2017-2022

Role: Lead Industrial Designer then later Director of Industrial Design

Overview: In 2017, I embarked on a journey with Osmo, joining as the lead industrial designer for hardware. My mission: to redefine the Osmo Base and Reflector, the foundation of an interactive educational gaming system, and propel it towards a future of expanded accessibility and versatility. With a vision in mind, our team set out to revolutionize the Osmo experience, starting with a redesign of the first generation Osmo Base and Reflector for iPads.

Our initial goals were clear: simplify setup and usage, address the inconvenience of removing iPad cases, and ensure scalability across a range of devices beyond iPads.

KEY CHALLENGES

Variations in device form factor, camera field of view, and camera location mean we need our system to be as adaptive as possible.
Our primary users are kids. We need to remain focused on making the product simple to set up and use.
The system must consider the constraints of our computer vision architecture. There are certain limits for device height and angle. We must ensure that the device is able to maintain a minimum required FOV.
Let’s face it, kids are tough on their things. We had to consider this as we looked at designing our platform. We wanted to make sure our product was kid proof. This meant a product that added case support for devices, was easy to clean, and would hold up under the most intense use.

INITIAL IDEATION EXPLORED A WIDE RANGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND FORM LANGUAGES

We built many models. Obsessively testing with kids and parents to understand what worked.

After our ideation phase, we began to narrow our search towards directions that we based on evolving our Gen 1 Base and Reflector design. The goal became building a more robust product that still showed a connection to the initial design.

The team worked closely with our partners in the computer vision group to extensively test our prototypes with a number of devices. Insuring a robust system would require maintaining a minimum field of view on any device, with any camera, in any location.

A KID PROOF SYSTEM

Combining innovation and user-centric design, we crafted the second generation Osmo Base and Relfector, unveiled in the fall of 2018. This transformative design offered a "kidproof" solution, providing both device protection and durability to withstand the adventures of young learners. By eliminating the need for device-specific adapters, we made setup effortless and future-proofed the platform by enabling support for both portrait and landscape device orientations.

Through a strategic collaboration with Speck, we meticulously crafted a custom-designed case, forging a harmonious fusion of functionality and protection. The case's distinctive profile design, coupled with the inclusion of a reflector door, seamlessly integrates with the Osmo platform, ensuring an uninterrupted and immersive play experience without compromising the safety and security of the devices. Notably, we incorporated Microban technology into the materials, effectively inhibiting the growth of harmful germs—an invaluable feature that has garnered significant acclaim and appreciation from our esteemed EDU customers.

PART TWO: OSMO PLATFORM FOR ANDROID

Building upon a solid foundation, we sought to expand the Osmo platform to include a broader range of devices. Amazon's Fire tablets caught our attention with their excellent kids' content and durability. However, integrating their cameras with our Gen 2 base proved challenging. Undeterred, our team embarked on a journey to find a solution.

The crucial decision was to make Fire tablets compatible with Osmo's computer vision system. The chosen solution was a dedicated taller base with an extending leg mechanism, supporting the Android ecosystem in the long term. This decision not only ensured compatibility but also opened doors for future expansions and collaborations within the Android community.

PART THREE: ADAPTING TO THE NEEDS OF NEW DEVICES

Osmo excels in adapting to ever-changing device designs. When Apple's thinner bezels challenged our compatibility, we innovated with a spring-loaded mechanical design. This single, versatile iteration supports newer tablets, smartphones, and even iPhone activation on our core platform.