September 21, 2024 – In a captivating interview on the podcast channel Design Tangents, Apple’s Human Interface Designer Johnnie Manzari and Senior Director of Product Design Rich Dinh shared insights into the development process of the revamped camera button for the iPhone 16 series.
The discussion, held at Apple’s podcast studio in Cupertino, primarily focused on Apple’s design philosophy and the criteria used to determine which designs make the cut.
Dinh emphasized that Apple’s approach is not driven by a secret formula but rather by a relentless focus on enhancing user experience. He explained, “There’s a perception outside that we have some sort of magic formula we follow when creating devices like the iPhone. But the truth is, we don’t. Our focus is not on creating new hardware or systems; it’s on elevating the customer’s experience when using an iPhone.”
This philosophy is evident in the redesigned camera control button of the upcoming iPhone 16. Dinh noted, “In everyday use, we want the phone to feel familiar in terms of grip and operation. However, we’ve introduced a subtle design element that makes both half-press and full-press actions highly intuitive. The idea is that a gentle press of the button signals the phone that the user intends to capture a moment, opening up a world of exciting new experiences.”
Manzari highlighted the importance of cross-team collaboration in bringing the camera button to fruition. He stated, “This innovation is a testament to the work of the entire company, from the sensor team to those responsible for integrating the information into the architectural stack. Ultimately, our goal is to deliver a seamless experience to consumers, allowing them to capture videos of their friends and family without having to think about the underlying complexities. It’s truly a testament to the deep collaboration across our organization.”
