Red-Dot interview with Unity® founder Hassan Ahouiek on the design of smart-home controls

“Good design improves the human condition.”

-Hassan Ahouiek, Unity® founder

Just as analog technology began transitioning rapidly to digital technology, and the internet was really starting to grow exponentially, I decided to study for a Higher National Diploma in Digital Media Production, then a degree in the same subject at the University of the Arts in London (back then it was called the London Institute). From a very young age I always had a passion for 'custom' technology integration and I was fairly technically-minded, but not so when it came to being creative (like my siblings). In 2016 I decided I wanted to make that passion my career and offer bespoke smart-home and commercial technology design and integration, so I started Unity®. I realised that to make it a success, I also needed to embark upon UI and UX design. Much of the work I do is in high-end residences where everything looks beautiful, so my aim is to make the technology work as good as it looks.

How would you define good communication design?

Perhaps it's like the opposite of art where the view of the artist isn’t always as important as the viewer’s interpretation of the art. So I think good communication design is kind of the opposite - the designer creates and develops the relationship between the viewer and the visuals. In my case, these visuals are the interfaces that the user touches and interacts with every day, controls for residential and commercial technology; smart homes and other smart spaces that combine technologies such as audiovisual, lighting, climate, security, air quality and beyond.

Where do you see future challenges in communication design?

I am concerned that good UI design has become available only at a high cost either financially or privacy-wise. Often the services with the best UI/UX come from large companies with large budgets. If they are providing those services for free or low-cost, for us it means instead giving away much of our privacy and data, or compromising security in some way. Perhaps an opportunity for smaller firms is that they can provide good design without such an agenda. I also feel that product manufacturers are moving more towards more closed and proprietary systems. I don't think anyone will choose just one manufacturer for all of their technology, so perhaps they should provide more openness with their products by making APIs available for integrators to get more value out of the products working together as one system - maybe more value than the manufacturers envisaged.

To what extent do you think new technologies are changing design?

Technology is at the very heart of design. But for most people technology seems to change at a strikingly fast pace. What is seen as an aid to good design today may become out of date pretty quickly when some new technology emerges. An obvious example of game-changing technology is AI which if applied properly in the design of smart homes, could eliminate much of what people currently dislike about technology - having to constantly tell the system what to do, instead of the system knowing what to do. There is also a view that voice technology will replace touch in many areas - once the security and social issues around voice have been addressed.

Why did you become a designer?

By necessity almost, but actually I don’t really consider myself a designer in the pure sense of the word, rather an integrator. Unity® was born out of a passion to improve people’s lives through good use of technology - to design great technology experiences at home and in business. Rightly or wrongly, currently I'm the only person I trust to execute my vision when it comes to creating smart home systems and their interfaces. There are beautiful physical products that can compliment the overall system, but for now the UI/UX lies with me. I have met some truly inspirational people through my work in design for which I am grateful and I'm sure I will work with some of them in the future.

How do you remain creative and continue to come up with innovative solutions?

I always try to remember that we must never stop learning. There are always new ideas, technologies, new concepts and talent entering the industry, sometimes making the more established businesses and ideas seem old fashioned. I think it’s vital for anyone involved in smart-homes to stay on top of new ideas and trends. And I believe understanding culture is key - to understand culture is to understand people, and from this I can try to figure out how people would like to interact with their technology.

What makes your daily work as a creative so special?

I always try to spot what others don't, and create unique work from that. I dislike to force my opinions on others.

Do you have a specific design approach for your work/projects?

Essentialism, achieving 'better' with 'less’. I feel this is vital when designing for technology otherwise it can get messy. I used to start by cramming lots of stuff in and trying to make it look simple, to the point where I realised it would be wiser to start with as little as possible and adding only what is essential. In other words it’s not about how much you can cram in, it’s about how much you can take away without diminishing the features and functionality of a system. This approach usually yields good-looking work.

What was your intention in designing your Red-Dot awarded work?

To present the one thing the user sees and interacts with every single day in one elegant interface, built on a foundation that allows bespoke design whenever needed for each client's vision functionally and visually, and the ability to add to the interface in future without detracting from the overall theme of the UI.

How do you convince your customers of the merit of your designs/concepts?

So far I have simply invited potential customers to look at my work and compare it to the usual alternatives, then draw their own conclusions. It's important that they choose whatever they are comfortable with, without too much influence.

What does it take to be successful as a communication designer?

I think patience and a humble, open-minded attitude are very important. As is the willingness to really listen to people’s opinions and concerns and work hard to reconcile between them all. Invest as much time as possible in trying out different ideas. For me that can mean experimenting with changing the way a device works to match my vision if necessary. Or simply moving an element in my UI a few pixels here or there. It's also important to understand how the technology works from a theoretical standpoint - this will allow you to know what’s possible and what will be more difficult to achieve. Finally, we all can and should learn and draw inspiration from everything around us.

You can see our official Red-Dot award profile here