Grid Tablet & Smartphone Interface Design

In a way very similar to any of our design-oriented projects, we began by creating a series of style frames. A wide variety of options in terms of looks and usability allowed both Perception and the team at Fusion Garage to consider various approaches in a visual sense, ranging from mild to extreme, while also beginning to touch on aspects of usability. A conscious choice was made not to limit the design based on hardware constraints but rather to make adjustments once a UI design was agreed upon. This approach was key to the goal of creating a tablet user experience unlike any other.

After exploring numerous options, our team and Fusion Garage narrowed down the choices and mutually decided on a direction that not only worked aesthetically, but would also provide functionality and flexibility throughout the demanding process of expanding into an entire operating system.

No strangers to making interfaces that jump off the screen and come to life whether real or fictional, the largest challenge throughout the project was creating a user interface that would be intuitive and easy to use, while providing rich layers of functionality. Numerous sketches, wireframes and interactive mock-ups went through rounds of revisions before becoming the operating system's various applications, file structures, browsers, and system menus.

After close to a year of development, the final pieces of the Grid interface fell into place, and the final build was loaded onto thousands of devices headed to customers all over the globe. Our work is seen in every aspect of the operating system, from the overall aesthetic and each individual app to the guided tutorial videos and the functionality of every preference pane.

We were also tasked by Fusion Garage with concepting, directing, editing, creating the visual effects for and finishing 5 viral videos to tease and build buzz around the launch their new tablet. With creative provided by Fusion Garage, we went in full force crafting the five stylistically different pieces: a fake focus group; a live stunt at the WWDC; a parody of the ‘loss’ of another smartphone product; guerrilla video of a re-wiring of the Empire State building; and a parody of the 1985 Apple spot “Lemmings”.

For the big reveal of the Grid 10 and Grid 4 we were commissioned to create one last piece, a beauty TV spot for each device which we wrote, directed and edited.

As the user interface was receiving its final touches and being tested on the hardware side, our team at Perception began to turn our attention to the highly anticipated unveiling of the device, and worked to help make the devices' introduction as dramatic as the device itself. A keynote presentation was crafted by seamlessly transitioning between over 50 animations, each one taking the metaphor of the grid interface to new levels.

While preparing the announcement presentation, we also created an entirely new Fusion Garage website to be launched in conjunction with the device announcement. The website answers questions about the newly announced devices and their operating system in a format that remains consistent with the aesthetic of the device itself, rounding out the entire Grid package.

It was an honor to take our innovative interface design work for the big screen and apply it to a high-tech tablet and phone with Fusion Garage. These devices will elevate users into a new realm of technological advancement and immersion.