Project UX Design Team
The subject: Canon’s G11 Powershot Navigation and Interface Screen
Getting Started
Tackling the digital camera interface redesign was quickly noted to be a massively overwhelming task. We’re all camera users, but who’s to say who’s the ultimate camera expert? The number of menus is ridiculous and the complexity of control levels is huge.
How does one even begin redesigning an interface with so many nuances and details and varying uses for a single product?
Answer: Research, Research, Research
User research began, I think, with the intent of figuring out which features people liked and needed the most so we could focus on parring down, redistributing menus, and adjusting the G11’s target audience to allow for streamlining content. But research is always telling, and much to our dismay, it seemed that many people like having so many features available because everyone wants their features.
Here’s a few of the sites you can check out to see how diverse people’s needs and responses truly are:
Canon’s own user review access.
CNet’s review of the Canon G11.
And don’t forget Amazon’s huge access to user reviews.
Also, here’s an excellent introduction/tutorial on the particulars of the Canon G11. Though it’s interesting to note that even as he promotes and praises the camera, even he’s fumbling with the controls and navigation throughout the demo.
Eventually, we found that our research actually helped refocus our goals into a much less daunting task. After all, we certainly aren’t in the position to dictate people’s feature abilities when we’re certainly not the almighty camera experts. Instead, we redirected ourselves on a new route to celebrate the diversity of camera uses and photographer quirks – customization.
Planning the attack
Turns out, Canon does have a menu customization ability (notice that star tab on the first image?), but no one seems to know it exists or how to use it. Our job was to make it front, center, and the main mode of menu setting selection. But there was more than just making it the first tab in the list. Who wants to waste time manipulating settings on a tiny screen with only a scroll wheel for movement control?
Enter the computer and iPad set up interface for inspiration.
You already connect your camera to the computer – it’s digital after all. Why not use that to automate customization and allow the user to work from the comfort of their monitor and mouse instead of inside the cramped camera?
A comparison of the current and proposed task flow charts shows a bit of extra time with the initial set up and customization, but its still a pretty streamline process. And ultimately, we’re trying to eliminate that circular, repetitive motion of even trying to find a particular setting, as well as the frustration of options you have no clue what to do with.
Plus, by dropping the “quick access” buttons inside the custom menus, there’s less physical camera bulk and space to enlarge the LED screen size – both of which were explicit complaints about this model.
And once you’ve gone through that first time set up, your menus are all there any time you shoot. You’d only ever revisit those steps if you chose to, so really, there are less steps in the long run.
Design Layout
The final designs ended up being strikingly simple in comparison to what originally appeared to be a daunting task.
The computer interface is a single pop-up screen that initiates when the camera is plugged in. Setting choices are organized on the right in a folder-like set up that can expand or contract as desired, and the user simply drags the desired settings to the camera screen at left. Folders can be added or deleted for organizational needs and settings can be removed from the custom screen simply by clicking the red X button. Sync the screen to your camera, and you’re done.
The camera itself got a major button reduction, a larger touch screen interface for increased visibility and mobility, and your custom setting menus are the first tab in the list. Oh, all the original screens are still there, in the receded tabs just in case you find out on the go that you forgot something. It’s more like a shortcut menu – for the shortcuts you want – rather than a specialized function camera.
Still, the design is simple, with only a few basic parts, that maintains the look and current appeal of the Canon brand design. We’re not trying to scare anyone here – just smooth out the process. It’s just that now your camera can be set up the way you want it set up – not the way some overseeing digital camera god-figure wants it set up.
Principles of Usability 