[ 彩材拆拆 x UNWRAP CMF ]
Ch3. Unwrapping CMF Design on Effective Persuasion via Building a Common Goal
Ch3. 拆招CMF設計談建立共同目標達到有效說服力

CMF is a specialized area within industrial design that focuses on the development of products‘ color, material, and finish. Unwrap CMF shares bite-sized stories with digestible contents for anyone and everyone, inspiring curious minds about CMF Design. Enjoy learning? Use the mentioned terminologies to kick-start your research journey. Messages are always welcome! LinkedIn | Instagram | Email ✉️

In last chapter, we talked about how a product is the result of cross-functional collaboration. Because each team holds different perspective, if designers cannot put a persuasive argument on the table, design details can often be sacrificed in the battle – especially in a company where design team is less valued. (中文請見下方)

That being said, it is Lunar New Year! Let’s try to think positively ?

If you can establish a common goal, it can be a less bumpy road for negotiation.

Take low-end keypad phone as an example: as the second generation, though there was some spec upgrade, we were left with little budget for else.

In order to save the expensive cost of tooling, the first common goal of the team was formed: “How to cost-effectively differentiate the look and feel of the product?”

Driven by the common goal, the design proposal of color-matched keypad was successfully included for further evaluation.

What followed was the concern raised by the Quality Control colleague: if the color-matched keypad is used on white SKU, will the white keypad be unreadable when backlit?

To optimize User Experience, the team’s second common goal was formed: “How to enhance readability while keeping the color-matched keypad proposal?”.

Quickly, ID Designer fine-tuned font width, CMF Designer proposed tinted TPU solution, Product Manager pulled in suppliers for sample-making, and engineers worked together to conduct requires testings.

Everyone still holds different perspectives like always, but because of our common goal, the team has established a mutual understanding to drive forward.

Even for a newbie CMF Designer who has just joined the company, can rely on the effort of common goal to bring out design intent ?

Now that’s some positive thoughts for a new year! I wish all of you a Happy Lunar Niu (?) Year, with powers to driving magical changes!



CMF全稱為Color Material and Finishing,屬於工業設計旗下專注於產品色彩、材質、及表面處理工藝的關鍵一環。UNWRAP CMF 彩材拆拆圍繞著這個主題,以淺而易懂的小故事拆解CMF設計的日常。CMF學無止盡,善用CMF關鍵字繼續網上鑽研。討論交流請來信至 LinkedIn | Instagram | Email ✉️

上一篇講到產品的落實是多方的協力合作,但也因為各自持有不同的專業和觀點,如果其他因素被認為更佔優勢,若設計師無法提出更具說服力的論述,設計細節往往會在PK中落敗下場。

如果身在設計團隊處於劣勢的公司,更能有所體會。.但大年初二應該要多一點朝氣,我們來聊聊如何扭轉局勢吧?.如果能和對方建立共同的目標,或許路上就能少一點顛簸。

以低端按鍵手機為例,二代產品作為進階版,雖有些規格上的升級,但預算依舊吃緊。.為了節省高額的模具費用,專案團隊的第一個共同目標為:「如何以最少的成本在外觀上做到差異化」。.在共同目標的驅使下,同色按鍵的設計提案在幾輪溝通後順利被列入評估 —— 這可是在一代產品中因成本而被犧牲的CMF方案,卻重新派上用場。

隨之而來的是QA同事(Quality Control)的擔憂:若同色按鍵用在白色型號上,白色按鍵是否會造成背光字體不易閱讀?.為了優化 使用者體驗 ,團隊的第二個共同目標成型了:「如何在維持同色按鍵的方案下,優化字體的可讀性?」。於是, ID設計師 微調字體粗細、 CMF設計師 提出染色層的方案、 產品經理 拉通供應商積極打樣、工程師協力進行所需的測試。

每個人依舊秉持著不同的專業和觀點,卻因為共同的目標建立了團隊的默契。

即使是剛進公司一年的菜鳥CMF,也能在協商之中,借助共同目標的力量,成功推動設計團隊想要的效果喔?

新的一年,敬祝各位設計師?轉乾坤、心想事成!

透過染色,提高字體色彩的對比度和可讀性。
Improve color contrast and readability via tinted layer.

TPU按鍵一般的中間層(字體顏色)是半透明灰色,在未開燈情況下顯黑灰色,在背光後呈現灰色,與白色按鍵的差異較小,不易閱讀。
此方案在半透明中間層進行染色,使得背光後的字體自帶色相,使字體更易閱讀。
在沿用模具的情況下,CMF細節的差異化成為新增型號的成本效益方案。
While tooling remained unmodified, changes in CMF details becomes a cost-effective solution to add a new SKU.

Nokia 222作為Nokia 215的高規格型號,在規格上有一些升級,但卻沒有太多的預算重新打造一個全新的外觀(模具開模往往是專案中最耗時、耗成本的品項)。
最終,Nokia 22以高光面漆和同色按鍵作為差異化,使得即使同為白色CMF SKU,兩代之間也能作為區分。
在許多產業都有類似的策略:利用CMF細節的調整作為新增型號的方案,這樣的運用也成為CMF的功能之一。
TPU需烘烤,而白色料在烘烤製程中會造成異色並偏黃,因此和同色塑膠零件會存在色差。
The making of TPU requires baking which makes white material turn yellow, causing an unavoidable color gap with plastic parts.

上一代黑色按鍵以rubber(橡膠)作為底材,而Nokia 222的同色按鍵以TPU(熱塑性聚氨酯彈性體橡膠)作為底材。
TPU的製程需要經過烘烤,而白色料經烘烤後會偏黃異色,因此和同色的塑膠零件會存在差異。
我對橡膠的經驗非常粗淺,歡迎補充~


Problem-solving CMF Fixer. Formerly manages the CMF Design team at Motorola, and currently a New York-based and world-traveling Design Consultant with specialty in CMF Design since 2011. 高雄囡仔,前世帶領摩托羅拉CMF設計團隊,今生定居於紐約並遊牧世界,任自由撰稿人兼CMF設計顧問,持續投入在CMF設計的科普推廣,並為提供CMF專案支持或諮詢服務。
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