For product designers, things that might seem trivial to consumers are absolutely paramount, and this reasoning is why Mike Sannikov built his 'Button Factory' device. The gorgeous piece of sampling equipment has no other purpose than to test the look, feel, and function of different brands and models of arcade buttons.
Sannikov conceived of button factory when endeavoring to build his own arcade joystick controller. Rather than blindly picking a button, he wanted to know the performance of each of his options. He ordered 16 buttons to sample, but "realized quickly: all buttons should be enclosed in simple housing to check [the] look and feel" and connected to electronics to check responsiveness, as Sannikov's imgur page puts it.
Button Factory, the final product of this quest, is a testament to the thoroughness of a perfectionist designer.
Arcade Button Testers
The Sole Purpose of Mike Sannikov's 'Button Factory' is to Test Buttons
Trend Themes
1. Arcade Gaming Equipment Design - With a focus on small and often overlooked design elements like arcade buttons, designers can create cutting edge gaming experiences.
2. User Experience Design - Designers are considering every aspect of user experience when creating gaming equipment, including the look and feel of individual buttons.
3. Rapid Prototyping - Tools and technologies like Button Factory allow for quick and iterative design, reducing time spent during the product development stage.
Industry Implications
1. Gaming - Game developers can use Button Factory and other similar tools to ensure their gaming equipment offers a high quality experience for players.
2. Product Design - Product designers can utilize Button Factory and other tools to quickly and effectively test and iterate on the smallest details of their products, resulting in higher quality designs.
3. Electronics Manufacturing - Button Factory showcases the importance of prototyping and testing at every stage of electronics manufacturing to ensure high quality products are delivered to consumers.