Guest Q&A with UMBRA designer
We have a guest interview for this post with Matt Carr,Creative Lead for Umbra's U+ collection.
We had a chance to ask him about Canadian design, hot trends and also tap into his imagination about what he'd like to see in future mobile phone designs.
Q: Sum up Canada's design style?
Matt: There is a Canadiana style emerging that tends to focus on natural homegrown materials. Smart solutions with a bit of a twist of humour and a universal aesthetic which runs parallel to Canada's diverse mix of cultures.
Q: What are the hot design trends for this year?
Matt: We're in a phase of embellishment. Might be the rebel of all of those years living with Knock Down furniture from the Swedes. Mixing old and new for an eclectic looks is a great way to pay homage to some of the best design periods over the past few decades.
The most important movement is sustainable design. As consumers become more aware of the affect of irresponsible design, they will become more accepting of eco-friendly natural finishes and less synthetic applications.
Q: If you could design a mobile phone, what new features would you want it to include that haven't been already?
Matt: I'm currently traveling in Asia, swapping SIM cards from day to day depending on which country I'm in. I'd love to have a dual SIM card option integrated into the phone; it'd save me from losing so many cards.
I like products that are ever-changing - imagine the phone changed colour dependant of its surrounding like a chameleon - it'd be a great theft device as well.
I'm also a big fan of gesture movements on some of my computer aided design (CAD) software packages. It'd be cool to drag your finger in a heart shape over the screen to call your 'miss'.
Q: What mobile forms and finishes would you like to see in the future?
Matt: It'd be cool to see a screen and metal surface that does not finger print or smudge, and I'd love a phone made of natural sustainable materials, like wood. Let's incorporate more texture choices that allow the colour to change depending on mood, the tone of your voice or even heat.
Building 3D models from CAD is becoming mainstream. As a designer, I use this technology to create virtual models to test geometry and ergonomics. Eventually these machines will be available to the general public.
Imagine if Motorola had a program that allowed the customers to design their own phones online! They would then go to their local store, receive in the mail, or "print" out the 3d form in their own home!