Alienware Studio 16
A laptop for Alienware to adapt to minimalistic gaming laptop trend by using metal finish contrast, compete with other brand and be more inclusive. Featuring Dynamic TouchZone, improving task workflow and productivity.
Disclaimer: This laptop design is a personal, unofficial project and not affiliated with or endorsed by Alienware or Dell Technologies. All trademarks and brand names mentioned belong to their respective owners. This is a conceptual design created for personal, non-commercial use.
Why: Alienware need to catch up the market trend
Large amout of emerging users are seeking laptops of performance and understated style to fit their lifestyle. Traditional gaming laptop brands are mostly adapting to the new desire of minimalistic design. However, Alienware moved late and is struggling to offer a quality model.
Opportunity：emerging users
Emerging users seeking performance and understated style
Gaming laptop companies offer simpler designs to appeal to a wider audience, including professionals, students, and content creators who need powerful hardware but prefer a more understated, versatile aesthetic for various environments, from offices to classrooms, broadening their market beyond traditional gaming enthusiasts.
Competitive landspace
Alienware is losing new trend traction
How: design tactic to adopt minimalistic style for Alienware
Minimalistic is about using only necessary design elements to achieve brand identity yet following the mass trend. Learn from the competitor, express through its own heritage, aim luxury as what the brand stand for.
1. Adopt key minimalistic design approaches
As many other gaming PC brands (ASUS ROG, Razer, Lenovo Legion, MSI, HP Omen and etc.) are offering minimalistic gaming laptops catering to users who seek for business-appropriate aesthetics. Clean line is adopted by many brands and the laptop designs are more like graphic. While brands are pursuing the same direction, they are working hard to make unique design elements that could differentiate from competitors and be memorable.
2. Preserve AW key design language identity
Originating from Alienware's signature design language, the rear design, light, hinge, honey comb shape......
3. Apply upscale style guidelines to translate key feature
Alienware as a high-end brand, its users demand style of understate, elegant and luxury. These ensure adaptability in various settings, appealing to people who especially value premium aesthetics, timelessness, and a user-friendly experience.
Development: sketching and modeling simultaneously
Solution: Alienware Studio 16
Exterior part
Tech Trend
Dell(parent brand) assistive touch technology
Dell have been introducing its assistive touch display implementations in the recent laptops, which could be pushed further to adapt to more users' various use cases. This could be an attractive selling point for its sub-brand Alienware.
Proposed Value Proposition for users
Simplify cumbersome & repetitive action registering process
It's better to serve these technology in a way that can solve real problems instead of just being cool. There are massive user groups and each individual has unique behavior patterns in all different applications. As a laptop targeting on wide ranges of professional and academic customers, its feature should be adaptive while generic.
Case Study: First hand observation study and secondary research
Macbook Pro touch bar's limitations
As a touch display, it is too far away from the user's finger when using the trackpad. And it is too wide that it takes users much effort to interact with it. Apple used quite fancy demos which I doubt it should be as simple as possible, it should be a tool that people can access without looking at it too much. Putting on top of the keyboard, it also doesn't have the tactile feedback from the haptic motors.
As a secondary screen, it is not close enough to the main display as a reference. And it is way too narrow to be seen in a short amount of time.
Overall, this assistive touch feature should focus on unconcious action instead of spending too much time playing with it. It serves for the main display not for itself.
Introducing Dynamic TouchZone concept
"Efficiency at fingertips"
An OLED display zone under the trackpad glass with tactile feedback. Customized options adapt to different applications for the best productivity at the user's fingertips. Simple and intuitive to use, endless contexts. It can only be triggered by customized force, eliminating accidents.
CMF
Anodized magnesium-aluminum alloy offers lightweight durability, efficient heat dissipation, and a premium feel. It's environmentally friendly, recyclable, and aesthetically versatile, enhancing both performance and design appeal.
Semi-rough finish enhances grip and durability, reduces visible scratches and wear, provides a unique tactile experience, and adds a subtle, sophisticated design appeal.
