Samsung designer explains S5 design concept: plastic shell feels better

  Although Samsung is now the world's number one mobile phone manufacturer and has amazing sales, it still has one of its biggest features that has been questioned by many users, that is, the "unchanging" plastic shell design. Recently, Samsung's designers explained their insistence on using plastic shells in an interview with Engadget, saying that Samsung has been trying to make more attempts in the touch of the mobile phone surface.

"Our main goal is to combine practicality, friendliness and humanized design, hoping to bring users some more pleasant feelings and better feel. If we use a full metal design, it will make users feel too heavy and cold." Dong Hun Kim, a senior product designer at Samsung, explained why Samsung insisted on using plastic shell. "If plastic is used, the texture is warm. We believe that using plastic will give users a warm and friendly feeling, and this material also allows our design concept to be fully reflected visually.

The design concept of Samsung Galaxy S5 undoubtedly comes from the Samsung headquarters in the "Digital City" in Suwon, South Korea. Samsung's senior user experience engineer Jeeyeun Wang said that mobile phones are no longer a rigid smart machine, but more like a fashion item in our hands. Therefore, whether in terms of system or software, Samsung hopes to return to the origin and focus on improving user needs.

So far, the previous generation Galaxy S4 has achieved tens of millions of sales, and the Galaxy Note series has also achieved the same. Now, Samsung Galaxy series smartphones have left a deep impression in the minds of consumers and have become synonymous with high-end mobile phones.

"In the past, we have always focused on adding some fancy, visually impactful features, which are fashionable but you may only use them once or twice a year. However, on the Galaxy S5, we have made more improvements to core functions, such as the camera, web browser, sharing function, etc. We are sure that the enhancements of these functions can make the phone better to use, which is also a reflection of the spirit of returning to basics," said Jeeyeun Wang.

Another senior designer from Samsung responsible for color and materials, Hyejin Bang, agrees with Jeeyeun Wang. "Smartphones are something we use every day. Although the design team considered giving the phone a dazzling metallic luster, a softer and friendlier touch will prevent the phone from being damaged if it accidentally falls to the ground or the user throws it out of anger. In addition, in addition to the commonly used plastic material such as polycarbonate, we have also tried various materials, and finally we made the Galaxy S5 feel like a soft sheepskin."

Although this time, Samsung designers only explained why they have been using plastic materials in their products from a design perspective, from the perspective of production and sales, the use of plastic materials will undoubtedly shorten the production cycle and actual cost of the product. Therefore, for Samsung, continuing to use plastic shells is a result of comprehensive consideration of many factors. As for whether users like it, let's test it through the actual sales figures of Galaxy S5 this year.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.