Caster Telecomandu by Mariana Couto and Tiago Correia

Caster Telecomandu by Mariana Couto and Tiago Correia is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award di Ferru in Elettronica di Cunsumu Competition Category.

FerruElettronica di Cunsumu· 2020

Caster Telecomandu

by Mariana Couto and Tiago Correia

Client: Telefonica

A' Design Award di Ferru Winner in Elettronica di Cunsumu Category

20,680

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #102595

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Caster Telecomandu

U telecomandu Caster hè statu cuncipitu per l'usu cù u serviziu Movistar è TV di Telefonica. Elementi di cuntrollu impurtanti sò l'area di navigazione disposta centralizata è u simbulu accuratamente piazzatu per a funzione integrata di cumandamentu vocale chì permette à l'utente interagisce cù l'assistente virtuale Aura. U latu inversu di u telecomandu, un rivestimentu soffice furnisce un cunfortu supplementu è una presa adatta, chì permette una manipolazione particolarmente sicura. A causa di u sensore di luce integratu, i buttoni più frequenti in u telecomandu si accendenu quandu u dispositivu hè trattatu in una stanza pocu illuminata.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award di Ferru

Caster Telecomandu hè un vincitore di u premiu A' Design Award di Ferru, una ricunniscenza prestigiosa attribuita à i boni disegni chì rispondenu à i requisiti prufessiunali è industriali aspettati da creazioni ben cuncipite. I vincitori di Ferru dimustranu una grande abilità, una alta specializazione, una cumpresa esperta è a capacità creativa di i so creatori. Si aspetta chì Caster Telecomandu sia una creazione assai apprezzata, ammirata è cara chì hè pratica è innuvatrice. Stu disegnu vincitore di u premiu A' Design Award di Ferru integra e migliori pratiche di u settore è hà caratteristiche tecniche cumpetenti ligate à u sapè fà è à u talentu. Caster Telecomandu hè rispettatu per a so meticulosità è hè cuncipitu per furnisce miglioramenti di a qualità di a vita chì aiutanu à fà di u mondu un locu megliu.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Caster Remote Control was designed to use with Telefonica Movistar TV service. Important control elements are the centrally arranged Directional Pad area and the strikingly Voice Command button that lets the user interact with Aura, their virtual assistant.
On the reverse side of the remote a soft coating provides additional comfort and a good grip, which enables particularly secure handling. The most frequently used buttons light up when the device is picked up in a dimly lit room.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 44.3 mm x Depth 22.1 mm x Height 191.8 mm
Tags: TV, STB, Remote Control, Caster, Electronics, BLE, Voice Search, Wireless, Telefonica, Aura
Production Technology: ABS and polycarbonate (PC) plastics are put through injection moulding technique to create the casing of the Remote Control - top, bottom, battery lid and lens pieces.
The keypad piece is casted in silicone rubber with the exact specified hardness to assure an optimal button click feeling. All the graphics are silkprinted in the specified Pantone colour references using custom-tailored jigs to attest quality parameters.
Design Challenge: At ideation phase the main challenge was to keep the end-user at the center of the design language. This would be the first Voice Command device for Telefonica customers, therefore it was crucial to develop a cohesive, high-tech and yet intuitive product.
Research: Firstly, and together with Telefonica, focus groups were performed with end customers to acknowledge: (1) technological preferences, (2) ergonomic requirements, (3) sense of design, (4) emotional response to brand elements. Additionally, an extensive study has been conducted within the Call Centers' Department in order to understand the main flaws of available TV services and respective devices. Those inputs informed the Design team and served as the initial briefing.
Inspiration: The inspiration for Caster Remote Control came from automotive design, well-known by its fluent and aerodynamic lines. Therefore, Caster unique design language is marked by its flowing curves and organic shapes. This product was carefully designed to respond both to the needs of our customer, the TV operator, and to the needs of the end-user. The first ones focus on brand awareness and outstanding functionalities, whilst the latter is looking for ease-of-use and comfort.
Project Duration: Caster Remote Control project was developed in different phases, from requirement research to product release.
First brainstorm meetings were held in March 2018, in Madrid. Until mid-2019 main actions were mechanical, electrical and software development, moulding production, and samples validation. First Mass Production run took place in November 2019, in Asia. The product was made available in stores all over Spain during January 2020.
Operation Flow: Caster Remote Control has a dual-mode interaction, from the most traditional button click to the sophisticated voice search technology. These interaction modes complement each other and provide a complete and intuitive user experience.
For an even higher-end experience, a backlight system with pick-up and light sensors has been added to the device. This allows the end user to perfectly interact with the remote even at low light conditions.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Tech4home Ltd 2019
Team Members: Mariana Couto
Tiago Correia
Image Credits: All images created by João Santos (Chief Design Officer at Tech4home)