Principal Designer Minki Ham, Senior Designer Kyunghan Noh and Assistant Designer Woojung Moon shared their insights about what went into the device’s creation.

(From left to right) Assistant Designer Woojung Moon, Principal Designer Minki Ham and Senior Designer Kyunghan Noh

Q. How did you first come up with the idea for the Gear 360’s design?

Minki Ham: The idea actually started out quite small. When the product planners asked for feedback on an initial idea, our thought was “that’s worth testing.” At first, we were not really sure whether the concept would fly. However, the burgeoning Virtual Reality industry made us increasingly confident about the opportunities 360-degree cameras could create.

Kyunghan Noh: Many designers of the Gear 360 had worked on camera projects before, but we didn’t take a standard approach this time around. We considered it as a whole new category of product, which required a new creative approach. We had to start from scratch because its imaging experience is very different from that of most cameras.

Q. Tell us a little about the Gear 360’s design concept.

Minki Ham: We began the process by asking fundamental questions about how the device would be used, its imaging quality and other important issues. The Gear 360 is sleek and minimal on the outside, but it is a 360-degree imaging device designed for daily and outdoor use, and features sturdy hardware on the inside.

When we started drafting the Gear 360’s design, there were already quite a few 360-degree cameras on the market, but some required professional knowledge to use or were bar-shaped. Those obviously have their own advantages, but we really wanted to address the limitations of them-available designs with the Gear 360. For instance, bar-shaped 360 cameras can be attached to a head mount, but they may not be as convenient to use.

We also tried to come up with an iconic design that would befit Samsung’s very first 360-degree camera, something that would represent a break from the norm. We were eager to come up with an eye-catching look that would impress. We aimed to make people want to take a closer look at the device or touch it.

Q. Where did you find inspiration for the Gear 360?

Kyunghan Noh: It was inspired by the helmets astronauts wear in space. These helmets look sleek, seamless and minimal, but also feature very sturdy inner structures. The idea of providing 360-degree images also played a major part. Unlike regular cameras, the Gear 360 captures images in a 360-degree field of view. The images it captures are spherical, so it made sense to create a globe-shaped camera that offers a consistent viewing experience from any angle.

Q. What kind of challenges did you need to overcome for this project?

Kyunghan Noh: In terms of design, our top priority was to make this new-type camera appeal to customers. We needed the Gear 360 to have a whole new product look, one that set it apart from existing devices. The challenge for us was to enable it to create images that were totally different, but to do so without losing the essential elements of a 360-degree camera.

The LCD display on the top of the device was actually not an original feature of the design plan. At first we thought that the menu, functions and other information could be displayed on a smartphone screen, as users need to pair it with a smartphone in order to view and share content. However, we later realized that to do so might not result in a truly intuitive design. We wanted to make it intuitively clear to users as they first set eyes on the camera which buttons they needed to press to start recording or change the recording mode. That is why we ended up adding a display to the finished device.

Woojung Moon: As the Gear 360 is spherical, users don’t need to think about where the front or the back of the device is. But as this design was somewhat new for many customers, people would often ask us questions like, “Where am I supposed to look when I’m taking a selfie?” or “What angle should I be looking at the display from?” We also had to decide where to put the display and control buttons, as a spherical camera does not have a front, so to speak.

We initially thought the best way to use the Gear 360 was to put it on a flat surface using its tripod, or to hold the tripod when taking a picture. But to our surprise, many people suggested holding the body or pushing buttons, even though this could mean one of the lenses might be covered by the user’s hand. I have video recordings and images captured using the Gear 360 on my smartphone to show to people who are not familiar with it.

Q. How and why did you choose the colors and materials for the Gear 360?

Woojung Moon: In terms of the color choice, we first had to decide whether the Gear 360 was going to be positioned as a standalone product, or if it was going to be matched together with Samsung smartphones and the Gear VR. The idea of unveiling a new-concept product in a whole new color might have helped draw attention to the Gear 360. However, we thought that as users might want to get more out of it by using it in conjunction with the Gear VR, it would be better to use the same white and black color scheme as the Gear 360 for consistency. In terms of materials, we used optimal solutions that would prevent overheating and also help increase the device’s portability. Unlike the Gear VR, though, the Gear 360 is suitable for outdoor use as well. Therefore, we went with materials which are resistant to contaminants and applied a non-slip coating to the accessories for outdoor usage.

Q. The Gear 360 comes with a tripod. Can you explain a little about this and the accessories’ design?

Minki Ham: During the development, we realized that in order to increase the Gear 360’s usability and portability, it needed a tripod. That’s why we started to think about size and designs that would be a good fit with the body. We designed the body and tripod to fit together as a complete package, and used the same design language for both.

Woojung Moon: As the spherical shape makes for quite a unique design, we also had to think long and hard about how we could make accessories that would match with the Gear 360. Camera accessories are often functionality-focused, and thus can sometimes feel mechanical or tool-like. It is often the case they are not very well designed from an aesthetic standpoint. As they are often large in size, they can sometimes look mismatched when they are connected with the main devices. One benefit of the Gear 360’s spherical design is that you can attach it to a whole range of surfaces. You can even use it on a helmet using its camera mount. That is why, in addition to the standard package, we also developed a Value Pack, which includes the camera mounts (suitable for both curved and flat surfaces), as well as a tripod that is twice as long as the standard model.

The standard tripod is designed to be stood on surfaces, while the value pack tripod can also be held in the hand like a selfie stick, and features a remote control. You can also attach a range of accessories to the universal tripod hole for greater compatibility and convenience.

The Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition comprises a package that includes a sleek, deep-black Galaxy S7 edge, accentuated by gold detailing and an iconic rear seal, inspired by Batman, one of the DC characters featured in the game. But what went into designing the Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition? Senior Designer Kwangmoon Kim, Senior Designer Junwon Lee and Assistant Designer Soohyun Kim in the Mobile business explained the ideas and concepts that went into the game-inspired design.

(From left to right) Senior Designer Kwangmoon Kim, Assistant Designer Soohyun Kim and Senior Designer Junwon Lee)

Q. What was the main concept and principle aim behind the Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition?

Junwon Lee: Our aim was to create a complete package that had a special meaning for Injustice: Gods Among Us game and Batman character fans. It includes a specially designed Galaxy S7 edge, a smartphone case and a Gear VR. The main color we used was black, and we also added a touch of gold.

Q. Why did you choose black and gold?

Junwon Lee: No matter if you are a fan or not, black and gold are the colors that most often come to mind when people think about Batman. The Batman character’s design has continued to change, but the black and gold themes used in Batman in 1990s’ still resonate with many people. We decided that these two colors best matched this edition, and our partner companies agreed.

Soohyun Kim: The logo – a black bat on yellow background – is very well-known. In the Batman movies and cartoons, the Bat-Signal, a yellow searchlight with a black bat emblem is projected onto the night sky as a means of calling Batman. Gold reminds people of the Bat-Signal and we believe the color can be attractive to both fans and non-fans alike.

Kwangmoon Kim: We thought about ways to add the gold-colored elements without altering the image of the new edition. As a result, the package presents a unique look as a whole, with each device piece imbued with a touch of gold.

Q. What are the differences between the Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition and the S7 edge Black Onyx?

Junwon Lee: We wanted to find a unique black hue for the Injustice Edition. The handset mainly consists of two colors: black and gold. Black encompasses the whole body, including the metal frame, unlike the standard Black Onyx version of the S7 edge. This matt-finish black represents Batman’s suit. Gold, on the other hand, was applied on the logo, edge of the home button and rear camera to make them stand out. We examined a number of image samples for the Batman logo on the back, with consideration given to size and dimension, and, following discussions with our partner companies, eventually selected one.

Q. The special edition’s Gear VR and phone case are also unique. What were these items’ main design focus?

Junwon Lee: Our collaboration with the Injustice: Gods Among Us game also led to the creation of the special black version of the Gear VR with a matt finish. The phone case is a reinterpretation of Batman’s suit, and we made an effort to visualize this in a metaphorical sense, rather than make it too obvious. We chose a material that is both comfortable to grip and durable, but that also maximizes the matt texture. The case also needed to combine great looks and optimum protection. We had to make sure it did not compromise the simple beauty of the Galaxy S7 edge by adding too much detail.

Soohyun Kim: I had never really been interested in superheroes, so at first it was hard for me to understand a strong masculine character. However, I soon realized that Batman was not born with superpowers – he is an ordinary person who decided to make the effort to become a superhero. We wanted to showcase his wise and mysterious characteristics on the packaging. Batman uses a variety of gadgets to augment his powers, and we wanted the Injustice Edition package to match with this kind of equipment.

Q. What did you need to consider when you design a product based on a superhero?

Kwangmoon Kim: When we started this project, I was excited about designing the Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition as I enjoyed playing the Injustice game recently, especially with the Batman character in it. We came up with an impression of Batman – a matt-black and solid image – from his characteristics. To turn this idea into a product, though, we needed to bear in mind several considerations. Existing Galaxy S7 edge models had their own shape and a glossy look, and our partner companies have guidelines concerning the use of their superhero characters. We truly examined every elements from every kind of angle to blend them into special, but well balanced.

Junwon Lee: We focused on reflecting the character’s nature and meeting the needs of Batman and Injustice: Gods Among Us game fans. Fans might buy this package edition not just to use its devices, but also so as to own products dedicated to their favorite DC Comics hero. We examined and selected each component of the package from a fan’s perspective and also made proactive suggestions to our partners. The first thing you will see when you open the packaging is a Batman logo badge, which emphasizes the fact that this is a special edition. It is carefully crafted and designed in terms of its size, color and texture. We do not think of this package simply as a way to increase sales. We hope more people will come to appreciate the Samsung and Galaxy brand through our fresh approach and this special edition’s emotional appeal.

Q. Do you recall any stand-out episodes you experienced during the design development?

Kwangmoon Kim: In order to realize the black design for the Galaxy S7 Injustice Edition, we had to work hard and cooperate with other teams. For instance, we had to secure specific set of equipment from existing manufacturing facilities to produce the black metal frame for the special edition. We also had to make numerous attempts to adjust the color and texture to fit with the design. In order to create a totally black look, we even made the slit on the metal frame that provides better antenna performance in black.

Soohyun Kim: I was at a library one day when a book about the history of superhero stories caught my attention, even though I had never really been interested in the subject. I read the book attentively. A few days later, I ended up getting involved in this project – an amazing coincidence. During the production phase, I also learned a lot of things that as a designer I had previously not known about. At the production facility, I could see how important it is be precise and accurate when you are making a quality product. Even a small scratch on the box, a minute color difference or a tiny error in the size of the tray inside the packaging is unacceptable. I learned that great design quality comes from cooperation between different departments, not just from designers themselves.

The DIY (Do-It-Yourself) revolution is no longer limited to the world of arts and crafts. From cars to clothes and even smart device user interfaces, the DIY method can be applied to just about anything you care to mention. It is often a perfect means of adding a touch of your own personality to something.

In response to this trend, Samsung has developed the Gear Watch Designer—a program that allows you to make your own unique watch face. It is easy to use and requires neither expert knowledge nor coding skills.

Five of the Gear Watch Designer’s key developers explained more about what makes the program “tick.”

The Gear Watch Designer is home to designer-friendly tools and functions, many of which resemble those used in Photoshop and Flash programs.

DIY Watch Faces Made Easy with the Gear Watch Designer

Previously, non-developer Gear S2 users were not able to personalize watch faces based on their unique preferences, much less share their designs with others.

But the introduction of the Gear Watch designer has changed that.

“In the beginning, we intended to create the Gear Watch Designer as a utility program to help developers. But as we progressed, the general consensus was that it would be better to make a designer-oriented program,” said Young Jae Min, Senior Designer of the UX team.

As a result, the team developed the Gear Watch Designer to allow designers to better express themselves, even if they lacked development expertise.

The Gear S2 maximizes customization, so that users can directly configure its hardware or software, and edit functions according to their tastes. And the Gear Watch Designer only enhances these customization features yet further.

With the program, you can easily add and arrange calendar, heart rate or daily fitness information directly to the watch face, for example.

You can also fully express yourself by customizing the index, hour hand, minute hand and second hand in the colors and styles just as you desire, all the while checking to ensure the designs function properly as you edit them.

It has only been a short few months since the Gear Watch Designer was launched as a beta version, in December last year on the Samsung Developers website. However, a number of users have already since shared their own unique watch face creations with the Gear Watch Designer’s online community.

“In the beginning, we intended to make the program simple. However, over the course of its development, it has become more complex as the team has diversified its ideas,” said Moo Chang Kim, Senior Engineer of the Tizen R&D Team.

This rather unique development process, in which the team constantly and collectively brainstorms and shares ideas, has allowed the Gear Watch Designer to advance consistently and in a multitude of ways.

“It has been interesting to gradually expand this project by incorporating our ideas,” explained Hyung Jo Yoon, Senior Engineer of the Tizen R&D Team. “It was a refreshing and novel experience to be able to share ideas between multiple departments in pursuit of a single goal.”

Sample watch faces made with the Gear Watch Designer.

Boundless Creative Potential

While anyone can use the Gear Watch Designer to make their own watch face, graphic designers in particular can let their creativity run wild by using their own images as part of the program. As such, the team focused on making the Gear Watch Designer as user-friendly as possible so that designers could use it with great ease.

However, as the developers were not all designers themselves, they explain that they found it difficult to find flaws and limitations in the program before they actually launched the beta version.

“We actively encouraged designers to start use the program when it reached the 60-70 percent completion mark,” explained Sang Min Jung, Senior Engineer of the Tizen R&D Team. “We then proceeded to hold contests internally, through which we were able to improve the tool based on employee feedback.”

Thanks to feedback and regular inter-departmental brainstorming sessions, the Gear Watch Designer soon developed into a more complete experience.

As a result, the program now boasts a number of familiar tools specifically aimed at designers, such as animation functions and graphic interfaces. Even more useful functions will be added in the future in the form of updates.

Both experienced graphic designers and keen amateurs can use the Gear Watch Designer with ease, a fact that has led to more and more people sharing their watch face designs online. In fact, some of the most popular of the paid watch faces available were created using the Gear Watch Designer.

“The Gear Watch Designer has allowed for some significant developments, allowing designers to directly create an end product without the help of developers,” said Sang Hyun Park, Principal Designer of the UX design. “As a UX designer, it’s rewarding to design for the product itself. It’s also very meaningful to be able to create tools that encourage other designers in different fields to create their own designs.”

On March 11, Samsung hosted a workshop at the California College of Arts, UCLA, focusing on watch face design using the Gear Watch Designer. Around 30 design students participated in the event, creating their own unique watch faces using the program.

Design students at the California College of Arts, UCLA participate in a Gear Watch Designer workshop.

The team will also showcase the program’s various functions at the Samsung Developer Conference (SDC), to be held from April 26 to 28 in San Francisco, California.

The Gear Watch Designer team (from left to right): Senior Designer Young Jae Min, Principle Designer Sang Hyun Park, Senior Engineers Moo Chang Kim and Hyung Jo Yoon and Engineer Sang Min Jung.

Over recent years, a new type of talent known as the “generalist” has emerged. Generalists refer those who create new value by combining many fields and types of knowledge. At Samsung Electronics, one of the most interesting and important types of generalist to emerge has been the technical designer position. Technical designers have the mindset of designers, but the ability to program, allowing them to bridge these two very different fields. To learn about this new approach to UX design, the Samsung Newsroom recently met a few of the technical designers behind the revolutionary Samsung Gear S2.

Combining Technology and Design

Perhaps technical design is not a term with which everybody is familiar. The role of technical designers is to optimize the user experience. More specifically, they use source codes and programs to design functions that explore newer and easier device interactions, creating an optimal user experience.

Until recently, engineers and designers normally communicated with each other only through the designers’ static sketches or documents. Engineers would then have to turn those sketches into final products. But the ambiguities and difficulties in this process sometimes caused delays and misunderstandings. To improve this process, the role of technical designers has emerged as an important one.

Bonghee Han, Principal Designer, explained, “Technical designers are creative designers who have engineering competency and contribute to creating the highest quality UX designs. The importance of technical designers stood out during the designing of the Gear S2, working as a bridge between the graphic designers and the engineers, helping the communication between them. The technical designers considered how to combine design with user interaction to ensure the end result was as functional as it was visually appealing.”

Creating the Circle

“We did not get together intending to do some certain task. In the beginning, some people were designing movements and the user experience, and through Flash they brought their ideas to life.” said Jungwoo Choi, Senior Designer.

However, in developing the Gear S2, which has a new circular shape, naturally the design for new interactions became more important and the designers’ role grew.

“Designing new interactions on a circular device for the Gear S2, many different attempts were made in nearly all aspects of the device. Before the prototypes were made, programs were developed to review the design outcomes, so that gave us more time to think” Choi added.

Their ideation meetings were very passionate. If someone suggested an idea, someone else would immediately be working on the coding. The designers created hundreds and thousands of prototypes and tested them thoroughly to create the best experience for users.

Jongwoo Shin, Senior Designer explained, “After countless attempts, the most optimal point for rotating the display between screens and content was found. This process was applied to everything, including applications, screens and touch responses.”

“Because I believe the most perfect UX is a UX that feels so natural people don’t think about it, I worked on everything in a lot of detail. All these efforts became the basis for the Gear S2, and I am very proud of it.” Shin added.

Working Towards a Shared Goal

When getting to know Samsung’s technical designers, it is remarkable to discover their range of academic backgrounds.

“I studied crafts at university. I wanted to see the outcome of my thoughts and sketches. So I wanted to study to learn how to realize my sketches, so my drawings didn’t just stay as drawings, but were brought to life. This is why I double-majored, to build my knowledge of software development. As I was studying, I learned that I could realize my imagination through source codes, and that’s what attracted me to technical design,” said Minwook Na, Senior Designer.

Jungwoo Choi studied mathematics but was very interested in coding and visuals. Jongwoo Shin studied engineering but was interested in graphics and motion. All of the technical designers have very different degrees and background knowledge, but they are currently working together as a team.

Synergy of Designers and Engineers

“When I was working on the Gear S2, I imagined what it would be like using it and what my friends and family would think using it, and that was enjoyable. In the future, I should be careful not to limit myself to stereotypical ideas. Caging yourself in could hinder your creativity. It is necessary to always stay curious about new things,” said Minkyu Park, Senior Designer.

User experience is a term that was generally unfamiliar 15 to 20 years ago, however, even back then providing convenience to users was actively discussed. And so, too, was technical design. These are the people who have been designing movements and creating new user experiences. Technical designers are crossing the boundaries between designers and developers, creating new synergies. We look forward to the role they will play in the future.

Fonts for Mobile Devices

“As a font designer for smart devices, I ‘draw’ text. My main job is to develop new fonts and optimize existing fonts originally designed for print or web pages by paying attention to the appearance of every single letter,” explained JiEun Kim, Senior Designer of UX Innovation, for Samsung’s IT & Mobile Communications Business.

The term “digital font” refers to the design of text used for electronic devices, such as computers and smartphones. As web design expands, the number of fonts also grows. There are many fonts that are language-specific. Considering that Galaxy devices support more than 90 languages, the number of fonts available for Galaxy users is nearly inconceivable. The default font for Galaxy devices is the result of optimizing the standard typeface used by Android OS, ensuring that it is best-suited for each Galaxy device.

Many people like to change the fonts on their personal devices, testing various styles to find their favorite. Typeface is so important, some users pay to download additional options. For others, font design may go unnoticed as devices and trends change, sticking to familiar fonts that feel comfortable. Just like seasonal fashion, new fonts can be applied for a different look; however, as with many things, simply following the trend is not always the best way to go.

“In my opinion, a good font should be clearly legible, even after long hours of reading. But that does not mean there is a universal font that is best for all devices; depending on differences in display resolution, screen size, aspect ratio and even background colors, the same font can look quite different on different devices,” Kim explained.

For example, the thickness of a white font on a black background can appear to be different than a black font on a white background. Additionally, wearable devices have smaller screens than smartphones. Samsung had to reduce the width of each character of every font to better fit smaller displays.

Creating a Masterpiece

The font design team also takes a creative approach, attempting to create new font styles that are interesting and different. Some people may initially feel slightly uncomfortable with change, but over time it becomes more familiar and eventually the change is preferred. Samsung believes it is very important to find the right balance between meeting the needs of people who like familiarity and pursuing fresh ideas that consumers will come to love.

“We continue to examine our fonts in extreme detail, even if it is barely noticeable to the majority of users. Imagine a sculptor working on his future masterpiece, hammering and sanding the surface for years. In a similar manner, we fine-tune our fonts little by little, getting closer to perfection each time,” Kim added.

Before launching a new device, Kim carefully checks how each font will look, depending on the length and arrangement of text and font size.

Unique to Galaxy

Galaxy users can customize the faces of their smartphones with several pre-loaded fonts such as Choco Cooky, Cool Jazz, Gothic Bold, Rosemary and Samsung’s default font. In the configuration settings menu, fonts can be previewed to see how it will look as a title or description, before applying the changes.

“It’s difficult when a font has really unique characters. People can grow tired of the font in a short period of time, if the characters are too strong. The most widely used fonts around the world are popular for hundreds of years, even while they continue to be refined. Keeping this in mind, we try to make sure every font on Galaxy devices looks neutral, solid and dignified.”

The newest font, Samsung Sans, was designed exclusively for Samsung mobile devices including Galaxy smartphones. Kim joined the design team that carefully developed the tilt, lines and curves of every character, over the past year.

“Samsung Sans is our first exclusive font for Samsung mobile devices. We focused on making Samsung Sans embody the identity of Samsung mobile, delivering a soft, natural typeface that is polished, but not over-styled. Because Samsung mobile devices are favored by hundreds of millions of users around the globe, we tried to design a font that would be easy and comfortable to read in any language,” said Kim.

Another noteworthy difference of font design that users may easily recognize is number font, which is the same for users globally. Due to changes in approaches and design concepts of Samsung’s flagship smartphones, number fonts differ slightly by device. Numbers change the appearance of the lock screen, the weather forecasting widget, dual clock widget and alarm.

The Difference of Typeface

When thinking about the newest smart devices, most people focus on the latest technologies and features. Typeface is recognized subconsciously; however, there are those who always consider the way information is displayed, such as font designers like Kim. They understand typography is a language itself, and think about what fonts are best for every message, location or device.

“As a font designer for smart devices, my goal is to design a smart device-specialized font that feels comfortable, is easy to read and is attractive across many languages. Of course, I want to achieve ultimate optimization for various smart devices, too. You may feel that the fonts currently used on smart devices are good enough, but I don’t think they are 100 percent perfect yet. I believe fonts are similar to facial expressions in a way; the slightest hint of distortion can change the whole impression,” Kim emphasized.

The Gear S2 has made a big impression with its innovative design and functionality since it was unveiled at IFA 2015 in Berlin. The most noticeable differences are a circular display and rotating bezel that controls the UX (User eXperience), which has totally transformed how smartwatches are used, making them simpler and more intuitive.

So the big question is, how did Samsung’s designers develop such a new vision for the smartwatch? Let’s take an inside look at the design of the Gear S2 and Gear S2 classic, and how the designers created such an innovative device.

Getting the Right Fit

For the Gear S2 to fit everyone at every moment, Samsung’s designers realized that they needed to focus on two key elements: finding the optimum size for the display and a suitable wristband for everyone.

“The width and shape of people’s wrists are different based on a number of factors. But we were dedicated to developing a Gear S2 strap to fit everyone,” said Jaehyung Hong, Senior Designer.
Reducing the size to fit comfortably on the wrist, while maintaining the same highly advanced technologies found in smartphones, was not easy. After much brainstorming, research and trial and error, the designers finally found a solution. Though it required a more complicated assembly process, the space between the watch face and the wristband was reduced, resulting in a more comfortable fit.

A Revolutionary Bezel

One of the most signature aspects of the Gear S2 is the rotating bezel. Rotating bezels have been used before in analog watches, but chiefly with dive watches, which are most commonly used for timing events. But when Samsung applied that technology to the Gear S2, it was a revelation.

“As touch screens have spread to all electronic devices, people are gradually forgetting about the rotary feel of analog devices,” said Yongseok Bang, Principle Designer. “We used to control the volume of TV or audio, the heating level of the range, by turning a dial. We’ve tried to revive the analog feel with the Gear S2.”

Bang also noted that circular designs had been considered for many years, but it was not easy to provide a convenient user experience with the full circle design.

“The circle design offers less space to display information than a square design,” noted Eunjoo Kim, Principle Designer. “We needed to consider how to use the space more efficiently. Then we realized users can enjoy and control the full display without any interruption through a rotating bezel.”

Because the Gear S2 is operated by the rotating bezel, the UX is faster, easier and more accurate. Users can control the interface without blocking the screen with their fingers. Although the rotating bezel is used in timer-like bezels of analog wristwatches, it functions completely differently, so designers had to come up with a wholly new approach.

“For every movement of the bezel, we discussed which way the screen should move,” said Yusic Kim, Senior Designer. “The most difficult part of the Gear S2 UX design was that we had to invent something totally new. We had to let go of our past designs and practices.”

To adjusting a physically rotating bezel, Samsung designers had to more closely work together with engineers than ever before. “We had to consider things like how much force was necessary to rotate the bezel, how much rotation was to be regarded as one unit, how many fingers were required to rotate the bezel, and more,” said Eunjoo Kim.

A Watch That Fits Your Needs

The most-used features on smartwatches are usually related to health, communication and music. With the Gear S2 and the Gear S2 classic, these features are easier and more intuitive than ever. Activity is recorded automatically on a 24-hour activity log. Notifications can be accessed simply by raising your wrist and music is controlled by the bezel. The Gear S2 and the Gear S2 classic have improved even the most basic features.

The Gear S2 and the Gear S2 classic also feature Samsung Pay, ensuring safe and easy mobile payments and freedom from carrying a bulky wallet. Smart Key replaces old keys, offering secure keyless entry. With the Gear S2 and the Gear S2 classic, simply enjoy more and worry about less.

Built-in wireless charging was specially designed for the Gear S2 and Gear S2 classic. Thinking about user experiences, the design team imagined how users would take off their watches at the end of the day. The wireless charging dock is magnetic and works when users place their watches on the dock, just as they would put their watches on the nightstand.

Of course, all that functionality is only half the equation. Users also have to be able to wear it in style. And thanks to hundreds of customizable watch faces and a wide selection of watch bands, all users have the ability to create a Gear S2 that’s just right for them. The design team wanted to make the bezel as simple as possible, so that the users have the freedom to decorate their Gear S2.

“Wristwatches have long been widely loved fashion items and we want users to feel they can wear a new smartwatch every day,” said Yusic Kim. “Gear S2’s many additional apps will be appearing continually at Samsung Gear Apps, including unique watch faces.”

The Smartwatch Everyone’s Been Waiting For

Through hard work and determination, Samsung’s designers have redefined the limits of smartwatches, bridging the gap between analog wristwatches and wearables. Thanks to their vision and focus on the needs of users, the Gear S2 is a smartwatch that fits into consumers’ lives, naturally.

From left to right: Jaehyung Hong (Senior Designer), Yongseok Bang (Principal Designer), Eunjoo Kim (Principal Designer), and Yusic Kim (Senior Designer)

Designed by Thoughtfulness

Incorporated in all of Samsung’s products is the unwavering determination and faith of the designer. Great attention to detail is put into the design of each item, from the selection of a particular material to the use of a certain color, demonstrating the sincere thoughtfulness of every member of Samsung’s design team.

To symbolize this commitment, designers are recognized in the Designed by signature line. Although their names do not appear on the home appliances, their collective work is honored through the word Thoughtfulness. After all, the designs are not the result of one specific designer’s efforts, but are instead born from a thoughtfulness for all users.

Designed by Thoughtfulness, the design philosophy behind Samsung’s home appliances, is an expression of the company’s enduring faith and will to seek new life values that begin with thoughtfulness towards users.

Additionally, Samsung continuously strives to get closer to the consumer’s life to better understand their needs and produce products that meet their demands. The three design values that illustrate this closeness are: Close to Human Sensibility, Close to Intuition & Essence and Close to Timeless Value.

Close to Human Sensibility

Design must get closer to human needs and emotions, and the shape of a product is a gesture toward the user. Through that gesture, the product’s personality is defined and communicates with its user. Unlike the stiff, machine-like form of traditional washing machines, the flowing character line of the WW9000’s upper panel is a gesture that expresses its readiness to provide the services that the user desires, maximizing sensibility by enabling the user to personally feel a warm, welcoming thoughtfulness.

Along with shape, the feel of a product also helps to form one’s relationship to it. The moment a user steps up to the Chef Collection Refrigerator, for example, a display hidden in the face of its metal door subtly appears and greets the user as if it has been waiting for the user’s touch. To make the display more discrete, Samsung created a Micro Hole Display that projects clear, concise information through an intricate matrix of minute perforations in the metal exterior. This patented Perforation Fill Technology, breaks the conventional paradigm in lighting display techniques that had been in practice for many years.

Likewise, the Knob Dial of the Chef Collection Oven instills a sense of nostalgia for the analog days, while its handle, rounded through delicate trimming, presents a sense of volume by harmonizing with the exterior body of the oven. Furthermore, the door’s weight and grip produce a feeling of reliability and pride, similar to owning a luxury item or a rare collectable.

Close to Intuition & Essence

Products embracing essential and intuitive designs have been created with the users in mind to protect them from danger. The virtual LED flame of the Chef Collection induction oven, a product of Samsung’s proprietary Virtual Flame Technology, intuitively shows the level of heat and temperature being used through an LED virtual flame.

This intuitiveness is also evident in the Chef Collection Oven, as its display maximizes convenience by providing the user with real time data at a glance. The Most Used Oven Mode remembers the settings that have been used most frequently and automatically sets the oven’s controls accordingly, while the Look Depthless feature allows the user to easily operate the appliance with simple, one touch convenience in any mode.

Close to Timeless Value

As household appliances are usually purchased with longevity in mind, it is necessary that their designs have a timeless appeal. Perhaps no other material is more timeless than metal, as its properties and values do not change as time passes.

The Chef Collection Dishwasher embodies the pure and everlasting value of metal, as expressed through the texture of its pure stainless steel surfaces. It presents a sleek and sophisticated design, featuring brushed platinum stainless steel that evokes the pure and everlasting value of the material through handcrafted metalwork.

Even more visually outstanding than a product’s materials is its color. Samsung’s design concept is focused on embracing the colors of nature in their original state, and no other element is more essential than air. As such, Samsung’s airborne color palette embodies life values that are as pure as air and as clean as light. Offering both subtle changes and dramatic contrasts, the colors maintain their distinct characteristics throughout, like the unchanging properties of nature.

Seamless Design, as it is applied to the Chef Collection Line, creates an integrated image by aligning the appliances with the cabinetry of the kitchen. Dedicated to quality materials and a smooth uninterrupted visual plane, the Chef Collection Line completes the integration of contemporary form and function into a single look that harmonizes with the interior of the home and the users’ navigation of space.

Close to Life

Someone designed a washing machine that would warmly welcome the user. This is how doing the laundry became pleasurable. Someone thought of a vacuum cleaner that embodied the pure and clean colors of nature. This is how cleaning became relaxing. Someone dreamed up a convenient kitchen, based on the consumer’s movements. This is how cooking became a joy.

Thoughtfulness is at the center of all of Samsung’s home appliance designs, making them more valuable and meaningful. The thoughtfulness in creating meaningful change and innovation may not at once be recognizable, but it impacts consumers’ lives in a truly significant way. To this aim, Samsung is drawing one step closer to consumer’s lives.

Visit design.samsung.com to read more Samsung Electronics design stories.

Smartphones can capture and simplify the most important elements of our lives. They keep us on schedule, holds glimpses of our memories and allows us to reach the people we love. But smartphones can also be an expression of our individuality, so we’ve collaborated with various talented artists and creative brands, to create custom accessories that enhance the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge.

Working with Swarovski, Montblanc, Romero Britto, Rebecca Minkoff and Burton, we have handpicked designers that share in our vision of design that is forward-thinking, streamlined and a fusion of fashion and technology.

Swarosvki, for example, is synonymous with luxurious, high-quality jewelry. Building on a longstanding relationship with Samsung, Swarovski has developed a colorful series of premium, protective, crystal-embellished covers that reflect the different shades of glass in the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge.

The more expressive among us might lean towards Romero Britto’s designs, which reflect his signature visual language of vibrant colors and bold patterns. Romero’s art combines influences from cubism with pop to create an iconic style that the New York Times described as exuding “warmth, optimism and love.”

“My art brings a feeling of happiness, love, joy and passion. Everything starts with passion and inspiration, and my inspiration for the design was all-encompassing of everything Samsung does in terms of forward-thinking technology,” said Romero of his collaboration with Samsung. “It’s a great honor to partner with a company like Samsung that I share a common vision with, a vision of having as many people share and enjoy our designs as possible.” Here’s a video where Romero talks about this collaboration with Samsung.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W755tbMCMFA

If you’d like to know more about the whole accessory line up of our brand collaboration, you can download the mobile app, created exclusively for the S6 and S6 edge. Users in countries where Galaxy Essentials isn’t available yet can access the mobile catalogue and shop through either Samsung Galaxy Apps or Google Play.

[ Download ]

Galaxy Apps: www.samsungapps.com

Google Play: play.google.com

Now, let’s take a look at a few images that really tell us how each brand represents its own personality – and those of the people who love it. You wouldn’t do it to a book, but we give you permission to judge our smartphones by their covers.

Swarovski: Building on a longstanding relationship with Samsung, Swarovski has developed a colorful series of premium, protective, crystal-embellished covers that reflect the different shades of glass in the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge.

Montblanc: Samsung and Montblanc continue their exclusive collaborative relationship, combining Montblanc’s heritage of luxury and craftsmanship with the breakthrough technological innovations of Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and S6 edge featuring a collection of leather made cases and flip covers designed in the Montblanc manufacture in Italy.

Romero Britto: International pop artist Romero Britto has partnered with Samsung for their first-ever artist collaboration. Britto has brought his signature visual language of vibrant colors and expressive imagery to unique, clear covers for the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge.

Rebecca Minkoff: As an industry leader in luxury handbags, accessories, footwear and apparel, Rebecca Minkoff’s playful and subtly edgy flower print protective cover and leather pouch designs seamlessly enhance the beautiful and innovative Galaxy S6 and S6 edge.

Burton: Burton has fueled the growth of snowboarding worldwide through its groundbreaking product lines for active men and women. Now through its collection for Samsung, Burton continues its momentum with vibrant protective covers inspired by two of the brands most popular print designs.

When Samsung engineers set about creating a new generation of computer monitors, they aimed to bring comfort to the daily lives of users. In the process, they built the “best monitor that is easy on the eyes,” also known as the SE790C curved monitor.

The distinct difference between televisions and monitors is in the behavior of the user. Whereas both TVs and monitors are used for content consumption, monitors are also used for content creation. They are inherently meant to be more interactive. Samsung monitors have evolved and progressed with this in mind, in an effort to optimize the screen for users of all sorts.

Over the last few decades, computer monitors have taken a few different shapes. First there was the Cathode ray tube monitor with a rounded screen. The next incarnation was the flat-screen monitor, which reduced the display distortion caused by the rounded screen of the previous type. After that, slim and lightweight LCD monitors were developed.

In the end, LED monitors succeeded LCD monitors. Although monitors bigger than 24 inches have gained in popularity, such models have one significant problem: the greater the distance between the center and the edges of the screen, the more fatigued viewers’ eyes will get.

To tackle such a drawback and bring more comfort to users, a group of developers devoted themselves to creating curved monitors. The development of curved monitors was inspired by the structure of the eye, and it gives users a comfortable viewing experience by reducing eye fatigue and display distortion.

Samsung Tomorrow met the team that worked on Samsung curved display monitors to learn more about how the SE790C curved monitor came to be.

“Following the creation of design mock-up in 2012, we made the working mock-ups of the SD590C (27″), the first commercial model, and conducted evaluations with hundreds of people in the United States and Germany in 2013. The result was astonishing. It broke the record high among all concept evaluations for previous models with a remarkable score.” said Hyung-Gi Pak, Enterprise Business Team at Visual Display Business.

Accordingly, Samsung launched the world’s first curved monitor with a 27″ screen in 2014 and then announced a 34-inch model with 21:9 screen ratio in the same year. This year, Samsung added 23.6″, 27″, 29″ and 31.5” models into the curved monitor line-up, expanding the choice for consumers with a variety of screen sizes and monitor specifications.

“The SE790C model was recognized for its technologies and performance by a number of prestigious organizations as well as by winning a CES 2015 Innovation Award,” said Jun-Ho Song, Enterprise Business Team at Visual Display Business “By focusing on the fact that the monitor delivers the most comfortable image quality in accordance with user behavior, we have staged dynamic marketing and PR campaigns around the world. The current response has exceeded our expectations.”

Increasing Work Efficiency With Image Quality

When the SE790C debuted on the global stage, its major features showed how important the image quality is for a monitor. In addition, the model provides as many additional functions as possible in a bid to raise work efficiency by adopting an ergonomic mechanic mechanism. Specifically, the monitor has a high-resolution ultra WQHD (3440*1440). Its color range covers 100% of sRGB, and it has a 3000:1 static contrast ratio and wide viewing angle. Most of all, with Flicker Free technology, it realizes a quality display that is comfortable for the eyes.

The monitor is equipped with various additional features befitting its premium quality. With differentiated technologies developed by Samsung, such as PBP and PIP 2.0, the monitor can show pictures from two different input sources on its wide screen. The monitor also boasts USB 3.0, USB Super Charging, and 7-Watt, 2-channel speakers.

As for connectivity, the monitor supports a display port to provide high resolution; two HDMI ports to connect various AV devices, such as game consoles and STB; and four USB 3.0 ports. These ensure that users can connect and use peripheral devices conveniently.

With these strengths, the monitor has been well received by users who have used other curved monitors, many of whom say that it stands out from the rest.

“Before we launched the product, we offered an opportunity for some of our employees and professional gamers to experience using it,” said Sungkyu Lee, Enterprise Business Team at Visual Display Business. “At the time, many of them thought that all monitors are the same, but such perceptions were changed when they experienced the SE790C firsthand. Some professional gamers said that it was a must-have monitor because they spend a lot of time in front of a monitor. A lot of them asked if they could keep them a little longer.”

Left to Right: Sungkyu Lee, Hyung-Gi Pak, and Jun-Ho Song, Enterprise Business Team at Visual Display Business.

A Sleek Aesthetic in Front and Back

The design team also considered the fact that people watch and use monitors from a much closer distance than they do with TVs. As such, ease of use and appearance were also key considerations.

Samsung applied the concept of an edge bezel to the monitor design to help the curved screen keep users’ eyes comfortable. The simple design allows users to concentrate on the content being shown. As the open office concept has become more common, the design of the back of the monitor was also an area of key importance.

“When the design process of the curved monitor started, I asked myself what could make the curved shape noticeable,” said TY Won, Principal Designer of Design Team at Visual Display Business. “I tried to make the curved lines prominent by applying a metal material to its side to complete its shape. This design emphasized the curves by using linear elements in the stand base. So far, we have been putting in a great amount of effort to create the unique identity of Samsung monitor design. The product is also in line with this identity. Using the edge bezel, we wanted to have users immersed in the monitor to the maximum degree. At the same time, I intended to create a curved stand bar to express it as a sharp and compact product.”

People use monitors in various positions, unlike TVs, which stand in a single position. For this reason, Samsung created an ergonomic design that enables users to control the height and the angle of the monitor. For users who use a monitor arm, we even equipped the monitor with a VESA wall mount.

TY Won and Yongjoo Lee, Design Team at Visual Display Business

“As we wanted to develop and create a perfect product, we had to have a lot of discussions and make a lot of decisions,” said Yongjoo Lee, Senior Designer of Design Team at Visual Display Business. “I think that all this effort felt worthwhile on the debut of the SE790C. I hope that our monitors will take root firmly in the market whilst having a beneficial effect on others, because our monitors are at the center of change.”

It is expected that curved monitors will become mainstream soon. The launch of Samsung’s line of curved monitors is significant because they are armed with advanced technologies. These monitors are ushering in a new era with the unique identity of the company.