Lenovo/ShutterStock
There is a saying in high-tech that the hardware engineers reap all the glory.
With the exception of Sir Jonathan Ive, the legendary Apple designer, industrial computer product designers are often left in the shadows, with things like building processors, screens, graphics cards, drives and fans taking the spotlight.
Usually less are asked about the materials from which computers are made, the chassis or the shell.
Unless it directly contributes to light weight, no one is really interested in how computers are built.
That's why Brian Leonard, Lenovo's global vice president of design in the company's smart products division, was so happy when we asked to talk to him and know: How was a computer born?
How do you even approach designing a complex technological product - which is not a smartphone but is no less common than it?
About two years ago, something almost historic happened: Lenovo inaugurated a new series under the iconic ThinkPad business computer brand, something that hadn't happened in many years - the Z series.
It is not every day that a new computer series is added to this brand, and the question arises - how does Leonard approach this task, to design a new, modern computer and still not underestimate the history of the brand.
If you like, it can be compared to the creation of a new series in "Star Trek", or the design of a new car for a famous brand.
"The Z was an opportunity for us," says Leonard.
"Everything in its time. We are constantly working on the development of new materials in parallel with the production plans, and we were hoping that we could pull some of these materials into a new series. It was a good time to start talking about sustainability, and we tried to create the perfect sustainability story around a laptop, and it was difficult is very".
Brian Leonard, Lenovo Global Vice President of Design/Official Website, Lenovo
"But we did some things that were really important to us with the Z. First, we targeted a younger audience that was interested in us. We wanted to do something for the planet, and that created a clear voice for us to try new things with the materials. We started with aluminum, and we worked a lot around it, but no Only by engraving - we actually forged the material, which saved a lot of time and energy and saved on the amount of material for production. So this was a start."
"Instead of using natural cow leather, we used vegan (artificial) leather, but the thing I'm most proud of is the packaging: we used to put everything in plastic bags, with tags and a lot of plastic. We wanted to get away from that. Take a step back for a moment, and we decided to be 100 percent plastic-free. We also wanted to encourage the recycling of materials. So we used a combination of red cane and sugar cane for the inner box, which is completely compostable and biodegradable. All together, connect to a beautiful story of sustainability. And the beautiful thing, these ideas also flowed into the series others. It really elevates everything we do and how we recycle the aluminum and things like that," says the chief designer of the computer division.
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"Instead of embedding natural cow leather, we embedded vegan (artificial) leather"/Official website, Lenovo
"It takes a whole village to create great things"
Another point I was curious about is the process.
How is the dialogue and conversation between the engineers and the designers actually carried out?
Like the thing I mentioned in the opening, it used to be the engineers who set the tone.
As Lenard points out, they would build the insides of an entire computer - and then tell the designers: "Well, dress it up and make it beautiful."
Is it still like that today?
"That's how it used to be," says the designer.
"I've been in the technology business for 28 years, and it used to be that the engineering department would say - 'Well, we're done, now make it look good,' and then the design department would answer: wait, why didn't you come a year ago? Today, the process is much more parallel. We talk on goals and objectives, then build designs that serve the goal we strive for, and then it's a back and forth ping-pong, a dialogue between the engineering and design department. It's a combined work, of engineers, and product managers, and marketing and designers - a lot of people are involved in the process. It requires A whole village, as the saying goes, to create great things," says Leonard.
We aimed at a younger audience.” Lenovo laptop/ShutterStock
Linen computer
"For example, we have a complete line of materials research. We develop materials for future products. We know their strengths and weaknesses, know how to sculpt and integrate them. We work hand in hand with the engineering department, and they help us achieve the common goals we have set for ourselves."
"Choosing materials is something that is actually very important to us. We wanted to improve the sustainability of the products we bring into the world, and this was a popular topic of conversation in the company. But when we got to actually designing, we tried all kinds of things - plastic bottles, different fabrics and this gave us an initial boost, then aluminum recycled and artificial leather that replaces cowhide. For example, in the new generation of the Z (the second generation, n.l.), the back of the screen is made of flax plants, which is an interesting story."
Of course I asked him to tell.
"We grow flax for many uses and collect the small seeds from them for food and oil, but what do you do with the rest of the flax plant?" asks Leonard.
So we took and processed the fibers, and created a computer back from them in a process we developed, and it's a very different material than what you'll see in any other technological product out there, and we feel very good about it."
I asked the designer where he suddenly got the inspiration to work with a material like linen.
"We We do a lot of materials research, and work with several materials companies.
For example, I remember that a few years ago, I came across a Japanese travel equipment company that made a titanium mug, and I was very curious and wanted to incorporate it into an existing product.
I took the mug and brought it to one of the engineers.
At a certain point we contacted the Japanese company directly and asked to know where they get titanium from.
So we are constantly searching.
Later this research became the X1 Titanium, a computer based on a titanium chassis," he says.
"The back of the screen is made of flax plants"/Official website, public relations
"Unlike cars, we can leap"
And finally, I ask him what his sources of inspiration are when he comes to design new models in existing series.
Where do you get feedback from the people who actually end up using the computers, which is us and how do we maintain the balance between the desire for something new on the one hand, but not to damage the familiar interface.
"In the end it's evolution versus revolution," says the senior designer.
"Especially when we talk from a design point of view. I don't like to change designs just for the sake of change. I believe in an evolutionary process, where we put things together, and are aware of the materials we use. If something doesn't work, then yes, we will make a drastic change in the design. But the goal It is to create devices that people can live with for a long time. We are aware of trends, but we really want to make sure that the designs we put on the market will have longevity. Even in a year, two or three years, they won't look outdated."
"It's sometimes similar to the design of a car, but sometimes they have to change things, like making sure everyone recognizes the new grille or the new bumper from year to year. We, on the other hand, can leap in design dramatically from generation to generation."
And just before ending, Leonard adds: "We don't talk enough about the effort, heart and soul we put into products. You know, people carry these things (computers) with them all day, and they're part of our lives, and we want people to have meaningful experiences with them when they use them. in our products", he sums up candidly.
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