Teenage Engineering: Pocket Operator Vending Machine
An interactive brand experience for Teenage Engineering at MICROCOSM 2023
Teenage Engineering is a Swedish consumer electronics company that creates innovative synthesizers, drum machines, and audio equipment. Many of their most widely enjoyed products come from their portable Pocket Operator line—a collection of synthesizers and drum machines no bigger than a calculator. These products have made on-the-go music making not only possible for many, but also fun. I wanted to create a brand experience based around these products, since they are not only affordable, but also high quality and embody many of the core values of the brand.
To showcase the final concept, I created an animated teaser for the project.
To showcase the final concept, I created an animated teaser for the project.
Main Teaser
Stills & Detail
UI Design & Interface Journey
While developing the interface for the vending machine, it was important to design the experience in such a way that users would not make accidental purchases, as is common with most vending machines. In order to insure that this does not happen, I designed a hybrid tactile/touch interface that borrows from the experience of using online shopping carts. The user must confirm their purchase with a physical button after they have reviewed their items. Only then are they prompted to pay via their chosen method.
While developing the interface for the vending machine, it was important to design the experience in such a way that users would not make accidental purchases, as is common with most vending machines. In order to insure that this does not happen, I designed a hybrid tactile/touch interface that borrows from the experience of using online shopping carts. The user must confirm their purchase with a physical button after they have reviewed their items. Only then are they prompted to pay via their chosen method.
UI journey
Vending Machine Design
The design of the vending machine took cues from many of Teenage Engineering's existing products as well as their values. One of the main goals of the design was to imbue the formal and tactile design of the machine with the character expressed in their products. At the same time, it was also important to realize these characteristics in a new way, as is often seen when the company releases new products.
The design of the vending machine took cues from many of Teenage Engineering's existing products as well as their values. One of the main goals of the design was to imbue the formal and tactile design of the machine with the character expressed in their products. At the same time, it was also important to realize these characteristics in a new way, as is often seen when the company releases new products.
Final scale drawing of the vending machine
Storyboard & Direction
I wanted to sequence the teaser in way that would help build a sense of hype around the brand experience. This led me to directing the lighting and sequencing in a way that would maximize contrast to create a high-impact visual experience. I used this aim in tandem with the conventions I observed in existing promotional content from Teenage Engineering to inform the production of the final video.
The goal was to create a new experience, and ground it in the current visual language of the brand. I later ended up switching out specific shots on the fly to create a more flowing sequence that better showcased the design of the machine as well as its UI journey.
The goal was to create a new experience, and ground it in the current visual language of the brand. I later ended up switching out specific shots on the fly to create a more flowing sequence that better showcased the design of the machine as well as its UI journey.
NOTE: Prior to the onset of COVID-19, I had planned to showcase the project in a large process book that had a "flip-book section", where users could watch the teaser by flipping through part of the book. I axed this part of the project due to social distancing, but I plan to explore it in the future.
3D Assets & Texturing
I recreated the packaging for the Pocket Operator line by piecing together images of the products that I found online. I often found myself scrubbing through unboxing videos to get a single clear frame of the back of a package. This was a meticulous task, but it was worth it in the end since it gave me maximum flexibility with the direction I could take for the final teaser as well as any future additions to the project.
Brand research, concept development, UX/UI design, animation, 3D modeling & texturing, and sound design by Wesley Nass. All products shown including their packaging design and brand logo belong to Teenage Engineering.