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Open look at of the creation of DirecTV's Genie Remote

I was tasked to design DirectV's next generation remote. The previous remote, RC65, was designed by IDEO, but this time they wanted to take it on a new direction. DirecTV provided a rendering from a consulting agency that they felt was a design direction they wanted to go. I provided a Dark Gray remote that gave them all the provided keys, better usability and ergonomics. 

From there, the following images show where I, with feedback from DirecTV, create their new Genie remote. A long development, but in the end a wonderful and new DTV iconic remote.  With 20 Million+ being made and continuing to be made, The Genie remote is scene in households throughout the US and South America.

Usuability

A lot of work to get the the Genie remote's Navigation human factors correct.

Navigation

Usability Test were conducted to find the best Navigation surface. One that provided the optimum feedback when performing "heads up" viewing and control. Creating the right tactile feedback for users was a big challenge. Many test and 3D prototypes were printed for this.

Color Change request

Various Color changes were requested by DTV to visualize different color options. We were close to ID lock down and they wanted to once again to see earlier color concept placed on near complete Pre-Production models.

Back Housing Surface Details

A lot of thought was put into providing surface details onto the back of the remote. After 3D prototypes were made, having no detail was best. The back shape i created provided a "pistol grip" that provided optimum grip with pure surfaces. 

The battery door became a beautiful latchless design with minimal partline.

Battery Placement

Test with early Prototypes showed that the balance of the remote was more toward the bottom of the palm. Working with Mechanical Engineers we pushed the location upward as close to the center as possible without changing the Z thickness. Later, holding the new prototypes with the updated battery location was a overall success.

Production Artwork

Lots of work was put into the Graphic details of the HMC remote. I was very meticulous on aligning the HMC remote to previous designs. 

China 

Traveled to the Guangzhou China to look over production runs. Checking over the Front and Back housings, Graphic/text printing locations and the colors used.

Hospitality Remote

Creation of Hospitality Remote. DirecTV asked to develop a Hospitality Remote from their popular Genie Remote.

Final Production Model

SKY MEXICO

Concepts for a Low Cost DirecTV remote for Sky Mexico. 

Sky customers were lready accustomed to using DTV's previous RC65 tall remote so we mixed in elements of old & new to develop an affordable alternative to the Genie remote.

Future DirecTV concepts for smaller remote