Interview with Nova Design

The fact that a conference system does not automatically have to look like a functional machine is demonstrated by Nova Design’s “Tricom”, a sculptural product, whose clear design language also convinced the design experts of this year’s red dot jury. They judged Tricom to be one of the best products of the whole competition and awarded it a “red dot: best of the best”. Why technology should be invisible to the user and how they manage to develop design solutions which are understood by all cultures Nova Design disclosed in an interview with red dot.

In light of communication products using increasingly complex technologies, what were the challenges in finding a clear language of form? How would you describe the Tricom conference system and its language of form?
Nova Design: Technology should always serve people in a natural way. That means, technologies should be invisible and intuitive for users. That’s the thinking behind the design of the Tricom conference system. Today, conference meetings often take place in a more austere atmosphere. Tricom, on the contrary, is a sculpture like a humble ornament instead of a functional machine. It is designed with a simple user interface and a press-open pop-out key pad. Nova Design maintained its clean and pure form as a focal point on any conference desk. We chose two key factors for Tricom’s design language. First, its triangle form and hidden control panel convey a sense of simplicity and elegance. Like a piece of sculpture, it soothes tension in meetings. Moreover, taking the metaphorical shape of the cyclone, its spiral triangle symbolises better communication that is further enhanced by its three high-quality speakers.

What inspired you to use the triangle form?
Nova Design: The triangle form gives people a visual sense of stability. And just like the cyclone, each side of the Tricom is spiralling toward the centre. It not only attracts people’s attention, it also directs them to speak toward the microphone. Tricom works like a cyclone as it sucks up voices and transports voices to distant targets. Thus, it provides users with better communication.

With what design means did you manage to achieve the userfriendly operability of the device despite its technological complexity?
Nova Design: In the case of Tricom, user-friendly design means simplicity, ergonomics, and intuitive use. Based on the scenario study, Nova Design gave Tricom the simplest and most friendly user interface: a mere five buttons for dial, hang up, volume up/down, Skype quick access, and mute. The dial key pad, along with the power button, is located underneath the machine to simplify the design language.

How would you define good design?
Nova Design: Good design is a win-win situation for users, designers, and clients. It not only provides a unique user experience and unveils great creativity; it also brings profits to manufacturers. Therefore, a good design is always manufacturable, attracts great sales, and establishes a great reputation.

Against the backdrop of globalisation, how do you face the challenge of creating design solutions that are equally easy to understand by people of all cultures?
Nova Design: I respect different cultures and peoples and uncover their unfulfilled needs. An aesthetic judgement of appearance is often times subjectively interpreted in different areas. However, the psychological notions and rationales for why people appreciate those solutions can be insightful and universal.