Meraki MV2 Flex Camera by Nick Kawamoto is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 Golden A' Design Award in Security, Safety and Surveillance Products Design Competition Category.
GoldSecurity Products· 2022
Meraki MV2 Flex Camera
Client: Cisco Meraki
Golden A' Design Award Winner in Security Products Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #132006The Design
About Meraki MV2 Flex Camera
Meraki MV2 is a security camera designed for indoor and commercial spaces. A hinge mechanism allows the camera to fold into a compact bowl shape or to open into a standing form. The lens can be aimed in many directions, and the camera can be placed on a desk, a wall or a ceiling. Onboard processing and cloud management remove the need for additional servers and software. Machine learning supports object detection, classification and tracking in real time. Wireless connection, USB-C and mobile setup make the installation simple.
The Recognition
About the Golden A' Design Award
Meraki MV2 Flex Camera is a Golden A' Design Award winner, an immensely prestigious recognition granted to first-rate, marvelous, and outstanding designs. Golden winners are exceedingly innovative, visionary, and glamorously dazzling creations that reflect the prodigy, wisdom, and prowess of their designers. Meraki MV2 Flex Camera is expected to be a highly praised, trendsetting, and monumental invention that delivers unprecedented value. This Golden A' Design Award-winning design is a spectacular, respected project that highly benefits and advances the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. Meraki MV2 Flex Camera creates intense feelings of desire, evokes passion, encourages creativity, and fascinates us.
Where to Get It
Cloud-Managed Security Camera Solutions
We deliver intelligent security cameras with built-in AI analytics and seamless cloud management. Our enterprise-grade solutions combine machine learning, wireless flexibility, and intuitive deployment to transform how organizations monitor and protect their spaces.
Learn MoreInterviews
Grand Interview
Your innovative approach to transforming the Meraki MV2 Flex Camera from a compact bowl shape to a freestanding form represents a significant departure from conventional security camera design - could you elaborate on how this dual-form concept emerged during your five-year development process?
The MV2's transformation from a compact bowl shape to an expanded mode was a result of our user-centric design approach. Instead of following traditional security camera standards, we prioritized the diverse needs of our users—from large corporations with dedicated IT teams to small, family-owned businesses without technical staff. This required a camera that was both supremely simple to set up, yet versatile enough to adapt to any environment.Our research highlighted a common issue with existing mini flex cameras: they often had literal blind spots due to rigid aiming mechanisms, which restricted installation options and view angles. To solve this, we envisioned a camera that could offer the broadest range of viewing angles, even from unconventional positions. Over the course of our five-year development process, we tested and refined numerous mechanisms and configurations, ultimately creating a solution that offers a variety of mounted and freestanding capabilities.This approach allowed us to create a compact security camera that not only meets a wide array of user needs but also remains intuitive and easy to use, setting new standards in the industry.
The Meraki MV2 Flex Camera's ability to feel equally at home in both a server closet and a boutique coffee shop is intriguing - what specific design elements did you incorporate to achieve this versatile aesthetic that bridges technical and commercial environments?
The Meraki MV2 Flex Camera's design was thoughtfully crafted to seamlessly fit into both technical and commercial environments, such as server closets and boutique coffee shops. Users in these different settings have distinct priorities: those in a server closet prioritize advanced functionality, reliability, and performance, while those in a coffee shop value convenience, aesthetics, and flexibility.To achieve this versatile aesthetic, we focused on several key design elements. The MV2's compact size allows it to remain discreet, whether it's magnetically mounted to a server rack or freestanding on a shelf next to espresso cups. Its refined sculptural styling and unique form factor create a sense of intrigue and sophistication upon closer inspection, appealing to both technical and creative spaces.The camera's satin silver and textured white exterior subtly reflect surrounding colors, enabling it to blend harmoniously into any environment. This neutral color palette ensures that the camera complements various interior designs without drawing unnecessary attention. Additionally, the flexible mounting options enhance its adaptability, allowing it to fit seamlessly into diverse spatial configurations.By integrating these design elements, the MV2 Flex Camera successfully bridges the gap between technical functionality and aesthetic appeal, meeting the diverse needs of users across different environments while maintaining an intuitive and accessible design.
Given the exceptional precision required in the Meraki MV2 Flex Camera's hinge mechanism, with tolerances less than 0.02mm while maintaining data flow, how did your team overcome the engineering challenges to achieve this level of mechanical refinement?
Achieving the exceptional precision required for the Meraki MV2 Flex Camera's hinge mechanism involved overcoming significant engineering challenges. The hinge needed to be easy to adjust yet robust enough to hold a view angle through vibrations or accidental bumps. It needed to endure tens of thousands of adjustments without losing holding power, while passing data cables. It needed to be as compact and slim as possible to achieve a balanced proportion with the other elements in the design.Our team worked closely with the mechanical design team, drawing inspiration from high-performance data-passing hinges used in laptop computers. Given the extreme performance and aesthetic requirements, we partnered with select manufacturers specializing in precision engineering. Their ability to maintain tight tolerances during production was crucial. These experts assemble the hinge and ship it internationally to our main camera assembly factory in Taiwan, ensuring every MV2 meets our stringent design specifications.Through this meticulous process, we developed a hinge mechanism that balances durability, precision, and aesthetics, essential for the MV2's functionality and user experience.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- MV2 brings enterprise-grade security and analytics together in a flexible, compact form. A unique hinge, flexible mounting, wireless capability, USB-C, and mobile onboarding enables a seamless install. Onboard CPU and cloud management eliminates infrastructure and software requirements. MV2 uses machine-learning for real-time object detection, classification, and tracking with no servers or hardware required. The API data provides journey mapping insights for safer, more efficient processes.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- -76mm x 68-129mm
-Expansive coverage with a wide 103° horizontal field of view
-High-definition video with 4MP sensor and 1080P video resolution
-Built-in motion analytics for intelligent insights
-In-camera machine-learning capability for intelligent object detection
-Simplified management with Meraki cloud architecture
-Secure boot and firmware backed by hardware security chip
-Secure video access and privacy with user accounts
-Integrated wireless
-Night vision with IR illumination up to 8m - Tags
- Meraki, MV2, Smart Camera, Security Camera, Cisco Systems, Flex Camera
- Production Technology
- MV2 has 50 unique parts dialed in for the right fit and feel. Two complex hinge mechanisms allow for thousands of adjustments without losing holding power, all while passing live data wires. The components in the hinge are assembled with less than a 0.02mm tolerance, thinner than a human hair. Plastic and metal injection molding, machining, die casting, welding, and stamping are only a few of the processes used to make the parts inside an MV2. AI inspection on the assembly line ensures quality.
- Design Challenge
- The design challenge had two main objectives: Match the bowl shaped aesthetic of the MV line, and be able to aim the lens in any direction from a variety of desk, wall, and ceiling installations. The original MV design was intended for dome cameras only so it did not lend itself to a flex camera. The concept to transform from the compact bowl shape to a freestanding form using a hinge solved both objectives while giving the MV2 a unique and playful character that’s perfect for the SMB customer.
- Research
- We began with the previous bowl shaped MV camera as a baseline and began sketching and prototyping ways to make the shape more versatile. Whether it was with 3D printed parts or pieces of fruit from our lunch, we learned continually over the first few years what was important for MV2's usability. Many adjustable products were studied via tear downs. No corner of our work space was exempt from testing an install scenario; the camera had to be able to be mounted anywhere and aimed at anything.
- Inspiration
- The security camera space is saturated with mundane boxes, domes, and cylinders that lack individuality and character. The MV2 is a bellwether for human centered design and user experience. It’s rare to find an object so perfectly balanced between functionality and personality. MV2 had to feel at home in a server closet or in a boutique coffee shop so it’s friendly, not intimidating. Transforming compact to standing mode gives MV2 a playful personality that transcends typical camera aesthetics.
- Project Duration
- The project concept started in June of 2016 and began shipping in June of 2021.
- Operation Flow
- The MV2 is packaged in its opened, standing form, so that the user immediately begins to play with the hinge mechanism upon unboxing. This playful initial experience informs the user how they will eventually aim the view. Swiveling the base, lifting the hinge, and rotating the lens is a seamlessly intuitive process that brings joy to the user, creating a personal connection to the product. MV2 can be deployed in a simple standing scenario, on the wall, or on the ceiling with the mounting plate.
- Patents
- Patent Pending. #1027877. Nick Kawamoto, Daniel Lee, Ram Swamy, Ian Snyder, Nick Abalos, Parmis Taidy, Brad Palladino. 2020. US.
- Team Members
- Nick Kawamoto
Parmis Taidy
Brad Palladino
Alex Gioe
Ian Snyder
Nick Abalos
Daniel Lee
Phil Brown
Morgan Teachworth - Image Credits
- Cisco Systems Inc.
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