Winners profiles 2024
Blackmagic Design manufactures and develops creative video technology for film and television. The company’s interface design team consists of 13 members and is based at its main office in Melbourne. They work on a broad range of designs, from camera menus to large-scale software and web applications. To give them a sense of the customer experience, the team also spends time producing video projects using Blackmagic products. This hands-on approach helps them to continuously improve their knowledge and understanding of user interfaces.
Interview with Blackmagic Design User Interface Team
Red Dot: What are the challenges when you reimagine a professional camera like the Blackmagic OS for mobile devices?
Blackmagic Design User Interface Team: From a technical perspective, we had to overcome smartphone limitations in processing power and storage to pack as many features as possible into Blackmagic Camera. We had to rethink workflows without compromising on design or functionality. Professional cameras have physical buttons, dials, etc. Replicating this in a touch-based interface, while accounting for the ergonomics of mobile shooting without compromising usability, was a significant challenge. Smartphones are multipurpose devices, making it difficult to balance the needs of both casual users and professionals. Professional users are loyal to established camera brands. When they use a camera app made by Blackmagic, they expect it to exceed all other apps on the market. In other words, we really had to deliver something special on a very tight deadline.
Why has the quality of mobile cameras improved to such an extent in recent years?
Smartphones have caused a profound cultural shift in how we document our lives through video and photography. This shift has incentivised advancements in computing power and imaging technology. Today, the image quality produced by smartphones is on par with that of entry-level professional cameras, while being more affordable and compact. Instant sharing and feedback allow creators to rapidly iterate and refine their work. This development has prompted even more technical improvements.
Blackmagic Camera is also easy to use for newcomers. What makes its design so intuitive?
We made a conscious decision to ensure that controls are easily accessible. To keep the interface balanced and visually pleasing we used clear, readable text and beautifully crafted iconography. We also implemented a relatively flat hierarchy, allowing users to adjust settings with no more than three taps. Eliminating the need to navigate through submenus keeps the user anchored and encourages discovery and exploration for new users. Even if users tap on unfamiliar settings, they can easily return to the previous configuration, allowing them to experiment with confidence.