Pixel | Digital Etch-a-Sketch
Duration: 16 Weeks
Project Type: School Project (Team)
The objective of this project was to redesign an iconic product by incorporating modern technologies. Pixel is a digital art/puzzle tablet that combines the iconic control experience of the Etch-A-Sketch with a pixelated digital LED screen. Pixel provides both appropriate challenges and quality results similar to jigsaw puzzles and LEGO. Pixel is designed with another Carleton University Industrial Design student: Amélie Houle.
"An Etch A Sketch has a thick, flat gray screen in a red plastic frame. There are two white knobs on the front of the frame in the lower corners. Twisting the knobs moves a stylus that displaces aluminum powder on the back of the screen, leaving a solid line. The knobs create lineographic images. The left control moves the stylus horizontally, and the right one moves it vertically."
Inspiration
Customization and showcase are important parts of many household products found in current markets. Pixel is inspired by simple details of modern products and media which is optimized for customizing and displaying purposes.
The key design goal of Pixel was to reinterpret the original frame design in a simple way and communicate the function of the knob in a modest way.
MenU: Press down on the left knob to open the menu. The menu screen includes: save, display, home, and document setting etc.
Control: Turn the knobs to control the movement. The right knob controls vertical movement and the left knob controls horizontal movement. The current pixel location is indicated by an outlined pixel.
ColouR: Press down on the right knob to see different colour options for the selected pixel.
Nintendo Switch reference Jung soo Park | Museum of Pixelated Industrial Design
Van Gogh reference IXXI
Thank you very Much for Reading
Pixel is an industrial design project focusing on mechanical functionalities, technologies, affordance and aesthetic etc. However, there is also a very interesting design opportunity for detailed UI of the product.
Next step for this project is to develop a more detailed UI that is easy to use and understand by the users.
