Year
2025
Myself
Self Project
Category
Portfolio
job Duration
3 - 4 Weeks
The project began with a deep dive into how users interact with mobile devices today, especially in the context of AI tools, content creation, and digital communication. I studied the evolution of hardware keyboards, the decline of tactile feedback, and the rise of voice-based interactions. Special attention was given to retro hardware like the Nokia E-series and the BlackBerry line, iconic devices that prioritised input precision and productivity.
Additionally, user behaviour analysis revealed a growing fatigue with full-screen distractions and a desire for more intentional, focused digital experiences. This insight became the foundation for reintroducing the slide-out keyboard in a modern, AI-integrated form.
The visual and industrial design takes heavy inspiration from Jony Ive’s minimalism, with soft curves, clean surfaces, and a palm-sized build that encourages one-handed use. The QWERTY keyboard features rounded chiclet keys that provide satisfying tactile feedback while maintaining aesthetic balance.
The interface complements the hardware with a minimalist OS design, built around an "Ask Anything" bar, smart widgets, and subtle gesture cues. Typography is large, clean, and readable. Every pixel is purposeful.
Although the Open Slide remains a concept device, the design was developed with real-world feasibility in mind. The keyboard slide mechanism was modelled for physical functionality and ergonomic placement, ensuring usability without disrupting screen real estate.
All UI screens were built with Figma, using modular components and mobile-friendly grids, ready for prototyping or future development. The design is platform-agnostic, meaning it could run on a lightweight Android fork or a custom OpenAI-centric OS. Accessibility and responsiveness were considered throughout, ensuring comfort for a wide range of users.
Open Slide challenges the modern smartphone status quo. It's not chasing specs; it’s chasing focus. By pairing an AI-powered OS with a tactile keyboard, it slows you down just enough to think, write, and engage more intentionally. It’s designed not just to scroll but to create, communicate, and think deeply. Open Slide is a love letter to purposeful design, offering a glimpse into a future where digital minimalism meets intelligent functionality.
