hp knoq
Overview
A course sponsored by HP exploring the future of computing technology. The project was done in teams consisting of individuals from various diciplines. Over the course of 14 weeks, we were to conceptualize, pitch, design and produce an ecosystem of both the physical product and accompanying digital interfaces/interactions. This course was done with the guidance of multiple professors from ArtCenter College of Design, as well as representatives and experts from HP.
Knoq is a product that allows people to communicate and examine products across vast distances by utilizing advance cameras and holographic technology, eliminating the need for users to transport items between them.
Scenario Video
Brief
- Redefine the future of computing.
- Create an ecosystem of products integrating both industrial and interaction design.
Goal
- Enhance the way we communicate with others when surrounding physical objects.
Deliverables
- Conceptualize what the future of computing will become.
- Pitch concepts based on research and field study.
- Design both the physical product and accompanying interface.
- Showcase how this will integrate in everyday life.
Team
We were assigned teams of 4 at the professor's discresion, and I would end up working with Chloe Kim, Juno Park, Yidan Zhang. Based on our disciplines, we were split 2 Graphic Design Majors, and 2 Product Design Majors.
Roles
We, as a team, would individually carry out multiple different roles in order to help one another, so there is no clear cut line on who did what, but as an overview:
- I will ultimately be elected to step up as Project Manager for the team as we encountered extremely inefficient meetings and conflicting decisions for the first 7 weeks.
- Chloe Kim, with the most experience in the team, would help lead key decisions and creating graphics and UI/UX alongside myself.
- Juno Park and Yidan Zhang, our two Industrial Product Designers, would design, model and produce the physical product for our concept.
Ideation and Research
Presentation Walls
Every week, we would present our findings and research on the wall for feedback and comments. Below are a few of these at different times.
Scenario Video Process
To help us showcase a scenario in which our product can be utilized, we had to create a short film in order to communicate that. We distilled our goals and ideas down, alongside references from various inspirations to help us narrow down our scenario.
The script would be written by me, and Chloe art directed the sequence.
Filming
We hired a fellow ArtCenter Film Major student to help us direct and film our scenario video. Nick Wang would be our director for the sequence, along with 3 other students who assisted in camerawork and lighting. With the physical product finished just hours before the shoot, we would film 2 sessions over the course of 2 days.
Editing
We enlisted the help of Kevin Jan, an ArtCenter alum who is now working professionally at a motion graphics studio.
For the remainder of the term, I would work alongside Kevin in editing and animating sequences of the video. I was also responsible for deciding the soundtrack to be used, which was found after listening to hundreds of different samples.
My primary contribution in this stage were providing the final cut, animating the sequences of the screens, and color correction. Kevin would help complete all the compositing and 3D graphics.
Outcome
After an excrutiating 14 weeks of stumbling and getting things done, I am frankly quite proud of our result. There is no doubt areas that can be improved, but I feel as if the final result is notable.
Our final presentation was met with great response from both the audience and representatives from HP themselves. This project would later go on to win the Red Dot in the Red Dot Award: Communication Design 2018.
