Promethean
Industrial Design
Summary
Promethean’s newest generation Interactive Flat Panel Display, the ActivPanel 9 (AP9), was in need of an industrial design update from its predecessor. The hardware was looking for a more modern–or possibly futuristic–look, feel, and overall sophisticated update.My job was to manage and creative direct the ID agency.
Role
Creative Director
Agency / UX Manager
Highlights
• Industrial Design won four awards• ID and operating system designed together leading to consistency and detail
The Task
It was time to give the panel hardware a make-over.
Promethean wanted to update the physical hardware design to be more modern.
In hopes to further their reach into the corporate market, the ActivPanel 9 needed a bit of refinement to reach the elegance appropriate to the boardroom. Yet schools were still the primary sales target, so it still needed to be approachable to students and educators.
The Challenges
With physical hardware, additional limitations beyond the typical constraints of software development. Cost of goods, component availability, design longevity, and much more needed to be heavily considered when making design decisions.
Once manufacturing is underway there’s no going back.
A Leap Forward
I asked the ID agency to stretch their imaginations to the clouds, but still keep one foot on the ground. The initial ideas from the Industrial Design agency were amazing, but meet the constraints. I guided the ID team through multiple rounds of iteration, tightening the concepts.
Unfortunately, most of these ideas were a departure beyond the previous model’s designs; not quite the evolution I was hoping for. (They do look really cool, though.)
Accessories
I couldn’t pass up the opportunity create bespoke accessories to match the aesthetics of the panel. Multiple iterations were taken while the main panel design was evolving as well.
Various concepts were 3D printed and field tested to find the right size, shape, and ergonomics for everyone.
An Evolution
While the concepts were great, I wanted an evolution from previous models. Many schools will have a mix of old and new devices. The new design should be familiar to those who already use Promethean panels. Let’s back up and change direction.
An evolution doesn’t mean something great can’t be made. Small changes can make a big impact.
It’s all in the details
I was in an incredibly unique position to design an entire product, both hardware and OS at the same time. Since I managed the product overall I could home in on even the smallest details for continuity across all parts of the panels.
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The button size the right size for average fingers.
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Speaker grill matches the grip pattern on the accessories.
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Same Iconography everywhere.
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Remote itself looks like a UI button.
Manufacturing
I learned a ton about designing and manufacturing electronics devices. It’s a whole other world, but much of the processes are similar to software. Manufacturing the end product is a little different, though.
Awards!
What would an award-winning product be if not for the awards?
ActivPanel 9 won a few in the Edtech space.
