Samsung Galaxy A & M Series Camera App

Design & Research About
image

Creating a unified camera experience across different devices

About.

A Re-Imagined Camera app adapted for a seamless experience on every Galaxy A Series (mid-tier market models) & M Series(mass market models) with the best flagship features, such as Night Mode and Ultra Wide shot.

Role.

I was the Lead UI & Motion Designer designing a unified and responsive camera app experience for various models. The various models had different hardware and software capabilities, chipset and processors. I had to design and solve for various technical limitations to get flagship features seamlessly integrated into each model in collaboration with the development team, and create global UI guidelines for the development teams. I travelled to multiple vendor locations in APAC and had to collaborate, educate, refine and evaluate the final development partner for commercialisation of A series models.

Discipline UI UX, Design

Collaboration TPM (Korea), UX (Korea), Development R&D (India & Vietnam), Vendor Partners' Management and Engineering (China)

A Re-Imagined Camera

In 2019, Samsung re-defined it's camera- to see more, capture better and experience the world differently every single day. Many new features were introduced in the Galaxy S10 and were to be introduced for the first time in mass market models: the Galaxy A Series & new M series.

New exciting features included: Ultra Wide Shot, Live Focus Video, Scene Optimiser, Intelligent Shot Suggestions, Super Steady Video, Night Mode and Watermark.

image
image

Role & Responsibility

I was chosen from our team to go and train with the commercialisation team in Seoul Headquarters and be the owner for complete A, M and additional android devices. As the Lead UI Designer, I designed and adapted the camera app to create a seamless and unified experience across all devices.

  • Each model had a different hardware capabilities, software capabilities, chipset and processor. I designed and solved technical limitations to get flagship features seamlessly integrated into each model in collaboration with the development team.
  • Ensured the app interface was consistent across all screen resolutions.
  • Created global UI guidelines and motion guidelines for the development teams.
  • Travelled to multiple vendor locations in APAC and had to collaborate, educate, refine and evaluate the final development partner for commercialisation of few A series models.
image

Challenges

  1. Technical Challenge : Seamless switch from Wide to Ultra Wide lens

    2. Due to the varying chipsets and processors on all A series models, the delay to switch from Ultra Wide lens to Wide lens would last anywhere around 600ms-1500ms on A Series. Whereas it would last 150ms-200ms on S10.

Ideal Scenario: Realtime

Flagship S10 Switch: 150-200ms

A Series Switch: 600-1500ms

Key Limitations for A Series Ultra Wide-Wide Switch 1. Simulate Immersive and zoomed out experience without the Ultra Wide image frame

2. Keep the consumer engaged for the 600-1500ms.

3. Create a transition that is responsive across devices and instances. The delay would be affected by additional factors of memory, battery and number of applications open.

Explorations: 1. Jump

2. Stretch

3. Inverse

image

Vendor Collaboration

The new Galaxy A Series was a pivotal project, designed and developed in India. Due to limited team strength and multiple models, Samsung leaders decided to partner with vendor companies to develop a few of the models.

I travelled to multiple vendor partners in APAC and conducted workshops for the development teams to introduce them to Samsung Design guidelines and procedures. I was the point of contact for HQ and the vendor partners. Challenges: Language Barrier

m

Worked with Samsung Electronics

Year 2018-19

Image credits Samsung Pexels

Team Zunaira Naqvi

© Zunaira Naqvi 2021