consolidate controls & reduce complexity
Providing Convenient, seamless control of entertainment & Environment of the home
We set out to create a remote that simplifies controlling multiple entertainment devices, while introducing users to the value of a connected home. When combining functions into a single device we needed a new way to manage button overload found in traditional universal remotes. Our approach balanced three control methods: buttons, touchscreen, and voice. Natural voice commands like "I'm cold" can activate systems like Nest and provide more touchscreen options. Commands such as "ESPN" or "Dim the lights" cut down on the steps needed to access advanced controls. Access to Scene control allowed one touch coordination of entertainment and environmental control.
BALANCE OF CONTROl
We aimed for a seamless plane between digital and physical controls, making the interface fade into the frame to create the illusion of being a single unit. While we could have made a complete touchscreen device, that would have sacrificed the benefits of tactile feedback and muscle memory, to help minimize distractions from the main display. To strike a balance, physical buttons were kept for the most crucial, often-used functions, while the touchscreen displayed controls for audio/visual services.
a common interaction language
The Savant Remote was designed to be part of a home control platform. We designed the UI of all Savant products to use the same interaction language, so moving across devices would feel seamless and intuitive. The curvature of the lens over the touchscreen helped to emphasize the behavior of swiping left and right across panels. This interaction was mirrored on the mobile and tablet applications. One-handed navigation was essential, so the main UI was anchored bottom allowing most navigation to be accessed using just the thumb.
shared device with Personalized control
Residing in a common area of the home, the Savant Remote was designed to be a shared device, accommodating a broad range of users. By utilizing a subset of favorite channels assigned to each user profile during OOBE, we created an adaptable UI that could be tailored to the user. These user specific favorites would populate at the top navigation. Instead of launching the cable service and then navigating to a specific channel, the user would simply select the channel logo, which would power on the appropriate devices and navigate to the desired channel.
Lead UX/UI by Ryan Kitson & Jaireh Tecarro, design by Chris Taylor & Julianne Sombat, Under VP of Creative Bryant Brennan