Silver Digital and Electronic Device Design · 2026
Planck Creator Ssd Mobile Phone Storage
- A' Design Award 2026 Silver Winner in Digital and Electronic Device Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 19,069
- Verification code 99A6B3596F · Verify this award
About Planck Creator Ssd Mobile Phone Storage
Planck Creator SSD is a portable solid state drive made for mobile filmmakers. The drive records Apple ProRes and Log video at up to 4K and 120 frames per second directly from a phone. A recycled aluminium heatsink inside the slim enclosure manages heat and supports a sustained write speed of 500 to 550 megabytes per second. A perpendicular USB-C connector lets the drive sit flush with a phone case and keeps the back of the phone clear for gimbal clamps and magnetic accessories. The body measures 50.5 by 17 by 7.3 millimetres, weighs 10 grams and holds up to 2 terabytes.
Benson KL Chiu's Planck Creator Ssd Mobile Phone Storage emerges within the contemporary tradition of precision-engineered portable electronics, where material selection and formal restraint communicate functional excellence and aesthetic refinement in equal measure, the device exemplifies the current moment in industrial design thinking wherein the aluminum enclosure serves simultaneously as structural element, thermal management system, and expressive surface that speaks to discerning users through its carefully considered proportions and surface treatment, the composition demonstrates sophisticated understanding of product communication photography, positioning the device within a gesture of casual yet deliberate handling that suggests both the object's remarkable compactness and its integration into daily creative workflows, technically the image achieves notable success through its calibrated lighting approach wherein soft directional illumination models the device's geometric precision while avoiding harsh reflections that might obscure surface detail or typography, the gradient background—transitioning imperceptibly from warm center to cool periphery—creates a luminous environment that elevates the subject without competing for attention, thematically the work engages with enduring questions of technology's relationship to human capability, the hand holding the device becomes a visual metaphor for creative empowerment and digital extension of memory and creative capacity, the device's minimal formal vocabulary—rectangular slab, protruding connector, subtle branding—speaks to a design philosophy wherein every element earns its presence through functional necessity rather than decorative addition, iconographically the image participates in visual traditions established by influential technology presentations wherein white space, careful lighting, and human-scale reference combine to transform functional objects into objects of desire, one might consider how this presentation invites viewers to imagine their own hands grasping this instrument of creative possibility.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Planck CreatorSSD is the world’s first phone-first high-performance SSD for mobile creators. It sustains Apple ProRes/Log recording up to 4K/120fps. Reliable, drop-frame-free capture without need for bulky rigs. The perpendicular USB-C allows the ssd to sit flush with your phone case and keeps the phone back clear for gimbal clamps or magnetic accessories. The ultra-slim form factor disappears in the experience. Up to 2TB in a form smaller, and weighing only 10g its lighter than an AirPods.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 50.5mm x 17mm x 7.3mm
- Tags
- SSD, Mobile SSD, Mobile Storage, Mobile Photography, Mobile Filmmaking, Content Creation
- Production Technology
- The true performance of the CreatorSSD was unlocked by integrating a proper functioning (recycled) aluminium heatsink within its slim enclosure. Allowing the right amount of heat dissipation for optimized thermal management and controller level tuning empowered the sustainable endurance write speed of 500-550MB/s, well above the 440MB/s required for 4K/120fps LOG recording. Manufactured with advanced automation on production lines such as CNC Glue machines, Calibrated pressure jigs and screw robots allowed high accuracy assembly with a 100% sustainable write speed test.
- Design Challenge
- The creative challenge was minimal footprint with maximum performance. Design pushed for the thinnest possible body where engineering needed enough heat-sink mass to support sustained speed. We had to keep the back of the phone clear for real mobile rigs and gimbal clamps, while staying sleek and unobtrusive. The only way to resolve these competing needs was trial-and-error testing, iterating thermal behavior, thickness, and stability until performance and aesthetics aligned.
- Project Duration
- Started April 2024 in HK, mass production in Sep 2025 in China, first prototype was in CES 2025, kicstrarter in March 2025. Won CES innovation 2026
- Operation Flow
- CreatorSSD records straight to the drive – no apps, no setup, fully compatible with your existing workflow. Unplug, then plug into your computer and edit from the same media – no complex transfers and waiting needed. Teams can shoot while others edit; solo shooters move from shot to rough cut faster. The ultra-compact body and perpendicular USB-C keep cables tidy and gimbal clamps clear for smooth handheld motion. Tuned for sustained writes, it stays steady on long ProRes/Log takes up to 4K/120 where supported.
- Research
- To deliver the perfect product for our demanding user, we had to understand how to design and engineer to prevent drop frames, which are the main concern for creators. The answer lied in visualizing (sustainable) write speeds. Learning how to adjust key performance drivers for improvements and building a reliable testing framework validating write speeds were well above 440MB/s was the foundation required to fuel not only development but also manufacturing. Resulting in innovating the manufacturing and quality control processes.
- Inspiration
- To record ProRes Log and 4K/120 on mobile, creators need an external SSD—but most drives are computer-first: bulky, cable-heavy, requiring mounts and cages, and many can’t sustain the high write speeds for long takes, risking dropped frames. CreatorSSD is phone-first: compact, clamp-clear, and engineered for sustained capture so creators can record confidently and move faster from shoot to edit to publish.
- Image Credits
- Armand van Oord