When it comes to designing a game console, some folks want a design or a color that stands out. Microsoft, on the other hand, was looking for something that, instead, blended in.
During Roadmap 2013 earlier this week, Carl Ledbetter Sr., Senior Principal Creative Director at Microsoft’s Xbox Industrial Design, spoke about the design of the system, and how the team wanted it to be a comfort in the living room. “We wanted to strike the balance between a pure form that feels like it’s an invited member of the home,” he stated.
The company wanted to find a design that fit not only sitting with other devices, like a cable box or satellite receiver, but also with its own technology. “They do share one common design language. It hasn’t happened before, and it’s something we want to take further,” said Ledbetter.
Microsoft also wanted to go for a “friendly” approach for players of all types. “We still have the Xbox 360, and part of our challenge was that we’re offering more entertainment through Xbox One,” he concluded. “We’re making the design and concept of the system echo first.”
Source: GigaOm
