Microsoft Surface Phone
The Surface Phone project started as a means to refine my industrial design abilities, involving research, hand sketching, 3D CAD, product renderings, and visual presentation design. Unexpectedly, it gained significant attention, attracting hundreds of thousands of hits and even eliciting Microsoft's interest in my work.
Quick Facts
Surface Phone was accomplished within an impressively short span of just three days.
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Surface Phone amassed 350,000+ hits on Windows Central within a week of publishing.
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Surface Phone received official recognition as a featured Industrial Design project on Behance.
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Background
In 2017, despite its robust hardware and user-friendly interface, Microsoft's Windows Phone couldn't compete with Apple and Google's dominance.
Market research revealed Microsoft's key challenge: consumers hesitate to buy a phone lacking their favorite apps, while developers are reluctant to create apps for a phone without a substantial market share.
iPhone
Easy recommendation
Great app ecosystem
Lack of control, customization
Android
Fully customizable experience
Variety in hardware
Software, hardware can be uncoordinated
Windows
Beautiful hardware & software
Industry-leading imaging tech
No apps
Microsoft's Surface line effectively rejuvenates the brand by tailoring features to the needs of engineers, artists, creatives, and designers, breathing new life into their work.
The Idea
Positioned as a creative productivity tool with distinct features, the Surface Phone could set itself apart from Android and iPhone, attracting a dedicated customer base.
Form Study
Surface products boast a sleek design language, eliminating unnecessary elements for an industrial, calculated aesthetic.
Surface Phone seamlessly transitions from a phone into a personal computer. It brings new experiences to traditional Windows with the ability to be used as a trackpad and quick launcher for applications.
With a revolution in imaging technology, Fusion Camera becomes an indispensable tool for creatives to record, craft, and share detailed CAD models of objects and immersive augmented reality experiences.
Experience places and events like never before.
From witnessing landmarks such as the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu to simulating first-hand technical training for careers and revisiting nostalgic family gatherings, virtual & augmented reality are poised to revolutionize entertainment, education, and communication.
Record immersive experiences with Fusion Camera.
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Browse, download, and upload experiences from Microsoft Experience Store.
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Enjoy experiences with virtual and augmented reality using HoloLens.
In Retrospect
Witnessing the launch of Microsoft’s Surface Duo and Apple’s Vision Pro—a purposeful creation tool and an immersive VR headset—has been amazing. In hindsight, I would have modularized the 3D scanning camera away from the phone but allowed them to converge for a more powerful user experience. I would have also incorporated greater functionality into the Modular Cover.