One for the 'Droid'
Market research of existing Cloud services has identified there is a space in the market for a new Android specific Cloud service that could become the flagship for Android users, similar to ‘iCloud’ being the flagship for Apple iOS users.
Android was listed as the best selling smartphone platform worldwide with over 190 million Android devices in use by October 2011. With such a high amount of users of the Android platform my intent is to design and manufacture a prototype USB memory stick to promote the new Android Cloud venture that aims to become the dominant service in the market.
This product needs to be usable as an everyday USB memory stick, but also perform as an effective promotional tool that will attract users to not only use the service but to pick up the ‘freebie’ as an attractive giveaway.
#######################
Design Development
#######################
Design Development
It's all in the Name
As part of the development of this product it is crucial to have the correct branding and product image, along with a well designed item to aid the marketing of the new service.
For the new cloud service I will be marketing I have devised the product name of 'SkyDroid', this directly combines the popular term of 'Droid' used when referring to Android services and a link to 'Cloud' with the word 'Sky'. I feel this is quite a catchy product name that will fit well into the market and be a name that customers will remember and be attracted to use.
Above are a series of text styles I explored when developing the product identity, the logo and text style on the right have been chosen to represent this brand.
#######################
USB Memory Stick - Sketch Development
Basic USB Memory Stick Design
Based upon my research of existing USB memory sticks I identified several key features of a USB stick that I wanted to incorporate within my design. My initial design for this product is shown below and is modelled on a very simple USB stick design.
As a USB device this design would be highly practical and functional, however I do not feel that it markets the new cloud service in any way except from stating the name of the new service.
From my own experience of attending shows and exhibitions where these types of new services and technologies are promoted, and collecting their associated freebies, the product needs to be more interesting and an item that consumers would want to collect.
From my own experience of attending shows and exhibitions where these types of new services and technologies are promoted, and collecting their associated freebies, the product needs to be more interesting and an item that consumers would want to collect.
It is the interest in the item itself that can actually prove to be the best marketing tool of all and help promote the new service, it can often be those that are of a more novelty form and less about the functionality that seem to attract consumers to them.
I aim to combine the two and develop my product further.
Further Design Development
I then looked into creating a USB stick that would still be functional, but would also be an item that would appeal to an audience at an event or exhibition where the new cloud service would most likely be promoted.
With my design specification being to design a product that will attract users to the 'freebie' and in turn the new 'Android flagship cloud service', I decided that a USB Stick modelled on the 'Android logo' would be the best way to achieve this, especially as it is a fun, character based logo that millions of users instantly identify with Android and Android service's.
Done correctly I feel this could be a great promotional tool.
Below is my initial sketch development of my intended design (pre CAD and model development).
From this sketching I can now continue to develop this design further through the use of computer aided design and model making.
#######################
