Report

“Bringing innovative design projects to mass production is a multi-step process that involves iterative exploration and trial and error. The Music Frame project is the culmination of positive energy and passionate collaboration across our design, development and CX teams since the summer of 2021.”
— Chulyong Cho, Head of Design Team, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics
 
 
Designing the Experiences of Tomorrow
Samsung Electronics is home to forward-looking departments seeking untapped opportunities. True to its name, the Visual Display Business’ Future Experience Design group actively develops concepts for user experiences that are missing in the market before turning those ideas into innovative products.
 
Launching a new product is no easy feat, however. There is a long journey ahead after proposing an initial concept — from designing for mass production and collaborating with other departments to enhancing marketability and perfecting the product’s technical aspects. Brought to fruition through unceasing passion and innovation, this is Music Frame and its design story.
 
* Content images have been simulated for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the actual product. Product specifications may vary by country, region and model.
 
 
Bringing Style to Spaces

 
 
Inspired by Your Lifestyle
Consumers are now opting to purchase products that seamlessly blend into their living spaces instead of ones that only offer functionality. To that end, Samsung has introduced a series of lifestyle TVs including The Serif, The Frame and The Sero. Since TVs are not in use most of the time, these products transition to Ambient or Art Mode to offer a tasteful design experience — rather than displaying a black screen.
 
Delivering audio in the form of a picture frame, Music Frame is an extension of this approach. Setting itself apart from conventional speakers designed mainly to amplify sound, Music Frame and its concept of lifestyle audio prioritize the user’s lifestyle and living space. Picture frames are a familiar furnishing that can be placed anywhere, reflecting each individual’s taste and personality based on the kind of art being displayed. Music Frame draws inspiration from ordinary picture frames, allowing users to listen to music as they appreciate their favorite pictures.
 
 
Breathing Life Into an Innovation
In collaboration with the development and CX teams, Samsung designers built and tested a working prototype that demonstrated high-quality sound. They received positive responses from users after extensive testing, which solidified their confidence in the product’s acoustic performance and overall concept. As a result, the initial design remained intact and went into mass production.
 
 
Bridging the Gap Between Decor and Audio

 
 
Sculpting Unseen Sound
Music Frame embodies audio, so Samsung couldn’t lose sight of how people enjoy listening to high-quality music. Given the product’s unique form factor compared to traditional, elongated soundbars, the designers worked closely with the sound development team to perfect acoustics from the get-go. Speakers commonly have fabric, grilles or other materials on the front to easily emit sound. Together with the sound development team, the designers found a way for Music Frame to amplify sound through a gap between the frame and panel — creating a design rarely seen in audio products. The result? A frame-shaped speaker that is not restricted by the material that covers the front side.
 
Due to the frame’s shape, the gap between the bezel and the panel was important since this portion produces high- and medium-pitched sounds. After countless tests to find the optimal sized gap, both in terms of design and sound quality, the team settled on a width of 9mm. The designers worked with developers to make sure the vibrations from the rear woofer speaker — responsible for the bass — would not create noise when the product is hung on a wall like a picture frame.
 

 
 
A Piece To Personalize Your Space
Just like a real frame, Music Frame allows users to swap the images inside for personal photos or works of art. Listening to music while looking at a framed photo of a precious memory or a piece of art adds new levels of depth to users’ experiences.
 
Samsung designers also considered users who might place the Music Frame on a table instead of hanging it on a wall. Meticulous refinements were made to the frame stand’s shape and angle to ensure it doesn’t look too prominent or cause reflections on the panel. Since the rear of the product is visible if placed on a table, the back was designed in a neat and minimal fashion.
 
 
Music Frame in Your Everyday

 
 
Your Life, in the Frame
If there’s a particular image users want to cherish, they can create their own art panel by uploading an image to a third-party website and placing an order.
 
Music Frame comes in a default black bezel, but users can purchase an additional white bezel to match their decor. They can fill their frames with stunning images to create a stylish space that is perfect for listening to music.
 
* Art panels are sold separately and customization availability may vary by region. White bezels are sold separately and will become available starting in the summer of 2024.
 

 
 
Fill Your Room With Rhythm
For more captivating TV viewing, users can utilize Q-Symphony for richer stereo sound by placing two Music Frames on either side of their TVs. For surround sound, users can place a soundbar in front of their TV and a Music Frame on the opposite wall to act as a rear speaker. With the SmartThings app, users can set the equalizer settings to their preferences. By fine-tuning the audio, users can enjoy more vibrant sound and immersive content.
 
* Q-Symphony using Music Frame is available only when connected to a 2024 Samsung TV (DU7000↑ & LS03D) or 2024 Samsung TV and 2024 Samsung Soundbar (Q700D↑, Ultra Slim, S-Series).
 

 
Looking forward to a future of new possibilities, Samsung designers will continue to develop products and designs that naturally blend into users’ lifestyles and living spaces.
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“Color” is more than just a design element. It is a profound language that bridges emotions and experiences, allowing artists to create evocative messages that resonate on a deeper level. It is a vital component in the toolkit of any creative professional. Accurate monitors like the ViewFinity S9 provide artists with the ability to see and express color accurately across various mediums, granting them total control over their artwork. This ensures that the final products are aligned with the artist’s original intent.
 
OIMU Studio, a design powerhouse in Korea, believes that design should act as a “connector.” Their work forges links between the values of the past and present, and between Eastern and Western traditions. Through various projects, including the renowned “Color,” “Nobang” and “Match” projects, OIMU provides these connections to their audience, blending cultural traditions and offering a fresh and modern perspective to elements of the past.
 
In this second installment of the ViewFinity S9 Story series, Samsung Newsroom sat down with Sohyun Shin of OIMU Studio to explore her inspirations and find out how ViewFinity S9 has become a vital tool in her artistic pursuit.
 
▲ Sohyun Shin, Founder and Chief Designer of OIMU
 
Established in 2015, OIMU is a lifestyle brand and design studio known for bridging cultural differences and reinterpreting nostalgic objects with a modern flair. Led by Sohyun Shin, the studio boasts with portfolio of projects that connect various traditional Korean elements with contemporary aesthetics.  

 
 
Q. Could you briefly introduce OIMU to our readers?
 
OIMU is a lifestyle brand and design studio, dedicated to celebrating and promoting the cultural values and traditions of Korea through design and content. We are involved in publishing, exhibitions and products as well. One of our most well-known work is the “Color” project, which created over 350 unique color names in Korean. We aim to reinterpret Korea’s rich cultural heritage through design.
 

 
 
Q. Can you tell us about your recent project using the ViewFinity S9?
 
The “Color” project began with a goal to develop unique color names, typically in foreign languages, in Korean. Recently, we made 100 color name cards for a brand exhibition. As these unique set of colors had precise CMYK values, it was important to express the colors as accurately as possible, to highlight those subtle and nuanced differences. The ViewFinity S9 monitor helped us match our print values to our digital designs, and we were able to prepare the final print as intended.
※ CMYK: A color model used in color printing with four ink plates: cyan, magenta, yellow and key (in many cases, black).
 
Outside of the “Color” project, we also work with many delicate illustrations, which can appear blurry and unclear at places like print shops with ordinary monitors. ViewFinity S9, in contrast, presented images with outstanding clarity, allowing us to confidently move on with the card designs. I recently underwent LASIK surgery to improve my eyesight. If prior monitors reminded me of my sight before LASIK, the ViewFinity S9 felt like seeing with improved vision after! It has undoubtedly been a transformative tool.
 

 
 
Q. What is the most important factor when selecting a monitor?
 
Much of OIMU’s work, like any design studio, require attention to details. So, high resolution is essential. High resolution monitors allow us to be more intuitive and help us work on intricate designs by showing the subtle differences in colors and details.
 
Data processing is key in ensuring that physical prints turn out high-quality. ViewFinity S9 significantly reduces the margin of error during this process. When comparing digital and physical prints, you’ll find them nearly identical. In essence, ViewFinity S9 helps us create higher quality designs.
 

 
 
Q. What are your favorite features of ViewFinity S9?
 
There were reflections when we were using ordinary monitors, forcing us to use blinds. With ViewFinity’s Matte Display, reflections are minimized and colors are accurate even in sunlight. Now, I can work while enjoying the view and natural light.
 
Our studio has many windows, so, monitor glare is unavoidable. I like to work with the view of nature.
 
ViewFinity S9 minimizes glares and reflections, so I can accurately check the colors even when it is bright outside.
 

 
 
Q. How else did ViewFinity S9 change your work environment?
 
Color temperature is another important aspect in our line of work. With ViewFinity’s Smart Calibration feature,1 we can calibrate precise onscreen colors without additional and often expensive equipment.
 
Also, ViewFinity S9 is great when I want to take a break from work, since I can watch my favorite shows on OTT streaming apps.2 I also just love this cute remote control.
 

 
 
Q. Would you recommend ViewFinity S9 to other designers?
 
Designers spend countless hours in front of monitors. To me, ViewFinity S9 stands as an optimal choice for both eye comfort and faithful expression of images and color. If you are a creative professional seeking a premium display, you won’t be disappointed with ViewFinity S9.
 
  
 
1 Smart Calibration enables users to conveniently customize the ViewFinity S9’s screen for precise settings — including color temperature, luminance, color space and gamma settings — using their smartphones, without expensive, complex calibration equipment. Available on Galaxy S10 or later, Galaxy Note10 or later, Galaxy Fold devices, Galaxy Flip devices, iPhone 11 or later and the second generation iPhone SE 2 or later. Latest version of the SmartThings app required.
2 App availability may vary by country and separate subscriptions may be required. Requires internet connection.
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Samsung Electronics today announced that Lucid Group, Inc., has installed The Wall at its design studio to enhance the collaborative design process for their future electric vehicle models. With cutting-edge MicroLED technology, The Wall offers exceptional visual capabilities, providing Lucid with additional tools to meet the surging demand for sustainable electric vehicles, while elevating the luxury experience for drivers.
 
“At Lucid, we’re on a mission to inspire the adoption of sustainable energy with a focus on the human experience. With The Wall, we’re able to take this mission to new heights,” said Jenny Ha, Exterior Design Manager at Lucid Motors. “While designing the Lucid Air Sapphire, from concept sketches all the way to final adjustments, Samsung enabled us to visualize the future of our vehicles in high resolution at all stages of development. No detail was left unnoticed, and we’re thrilled for our customers to experience the results of the new design process.”
 
“The Wall installation in the Lucid Motors design studio is another great example of how Samsung innovations are helping our partners and customers unlock their own exciting innovations to drive their business in exciting new ways,” said James Fishler, Senior Vice President of the Home Entertainment & Display Divisions at Samsung Electronics America. “Supporting Lucid in its mission to deliver sustainable luxury vehicles – and the stunning design of the new Lucid Sapphire made possible with our 255-inch class high resolution display — has been both inspiring and rewarding.”
 
▲ Simon Tovey, Exterior Design Director at Lucid Motors, and Jiyeon Jenny Ha, Exterior Design Manager, discuss the exterior design for the Lucid Air Sapphire using The Wall with MicroLED technology
 
 
High-Definition Image Quality Delivered at Full-Sized Scale for Seamless Collaboration
Powered by superior MicroLED technology, the 255-inch display empowers Lucid’s designers to view and review their designs in true-to-life color at a 1:1 scale. Not only does the true-life color produce a realistic rendering of the design, but the high-resolution display accurately reproduces the reflection of light off complex 3D surfaces.
 
The authentic image rendition allows for increased collaboration between engineering and design teams, resulting in accelerated decision making processes that save the company time and money.
 
▲ Simon Tovey, Exterior Design Director at Lucid Motors, reviews details of the Lucid Air Sapphire in front of The Wall with MicroLED technology
 
“The Wall has revolutionized the way our design and engineering teams work together,” added Ha. “With this technology, we can effortlessly visualize design data that incorporates engineering feedback and simulation results, allowing us to promptly assess the effects of any alteration on the overall design. In other words, development teams now operate more efficiently, and drivers can enjoy enhanced luxury aesthetics without compromising superior vehicle performance. It can be a tricky sweet spot to balance, but The Wall helps us pinpoint it seamlessly.”
 
▲ Jiyeon Jenny Ha, Exterior Design Manager at Lucid Motors, presents the design for Lucid Air Sapphire on The Wall with MicroLED technology
 
The Wall’s flexible-yet-compact design also saves valuable studio floor space at Lucid’s headquarters. This allows multidisciplinary teams to use the space for collaborative design workshops to perfectly refine every detail of the vehicles to deliver the premiere quality drivers deserve.
 
To learn more about how The Wall is revolutionizing automotive design, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/us/business/displays/direct-view-led/the-wall/.
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Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 during an event in South Korea next month, which means the 2023 Samsung foldables will hit the stores earlier than they have in past years. Samsung has started feeling pressure from competitors as various companies brought Fold and Flip designs to international markets. Then there’s the Pixel Fold, which is even more important than all the foldables coming out of China. This will be the only foldable Android device to deliver a Google-optimized version of Android.
Leaks have shown that Samsung is ready to respond to the increased competition. Both the Fold 5 and Flip 5 will feature design changes that should alleviate some concerns. But you’ll have to wait for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to get the design change you’ve been asking for: A better aspect ratio for the external display.
Recent leaks showed that Samsung has “fixed” one annoying Fold and Flip design compromise that has never been a problem for any of Samsung’s rivals. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 will fold perfectly flat thanks to a new waterdrop hinge design. That means the annoying gap between the two phone halves of the screen will disappear.
Also, Samsung will increase the size of the Flip 5’s external display considerably to match similar models from Oppo and Motorola.
Since other vendors delivered these features before Samsung, it seems clear that Samsung didn’t care about changing the Fold and Flip designs too much in the previous years. Samsung was the dominant player in the foldable business in most markets. But there were no real alternatives until this year.
While Chinse vendors have eliminated the gap and enlarged the external display on Flip phones, those designs were not available in international markets. Samsung had nothing to worry about.
Google Pixel Fold folded (left) and unfolded (right). Image source: Google Chinese vendors and Google have also fixed an incredibly annoying Galaxy Z Fold design choice. Samsung’s external display is too tall, and the resulting aspect ratio isn’t great for using the phone while folded.
Most people will likely use foldable handsets when they’re closed more than when they’re open. You don’t need to unfold the handset for basic smartphone features. It’s only when you need enhanced multitasking or a tablet experience that you unfold the device.
Handsets like the Oppo Find N and Pixel Fold do not have the same problem. When folded, they look like regular phones, which is what Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold handsets should look like. Unfortunately, while the Fold 5 has no screen gap when folded, that tall aspect ratio is still a problem. If that’s not what you want from your Fold experience, you can buy something from the competition. Or wait for the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Samsung leaker Ice Universe advised buyers a few days ago to skip the Fold 5 and wait for the Fold 6. Reacting to that remark, a different leaker said that the Fold 6 would bring a major design change in the aspect ratio of the external display. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be shorter or wider than the Fold 5, if Tech_Reve’s claim is accurate.
The leaker also said the Fold 6 would use the same image sensor as the Fold 5. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, however.
It’s unclear where Tech_Reve obtained this information. But the leaker said a few days ago that the Fold 5 might be slightly cheaper than the Fold 4. If you can deal with the weird aspect ratio, that might be a good reason to get it.
The Fold 5 should still be a great Android flagship, featuring high-end specs just like the Galaxy S23 series. Still, the handset will be more expensive than most traditional smartphones, even after a price cut.
Don't Miss: There’s nothing wrong with Nothing Phone (2)’s leaked priceThe post Galaxy Z Fold 5 won’t have the design change everyone wants, but the Fold 6 might appeared first on BGR.
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Since its launch in 2017, Samsung Art Store has been at the forefront of driving significant changes in the way we experience and appreciate art. With vast collections of artwork, The Frame and the Art Store offer different ways for consumers to enjoy diverse forms of artwork from the comfort of their homes.
 
Street art — which often incorporates elements of its surroundings and nature — has been finding its place in digital media as display technology and picture quality have rapidly evolved in recent years. Through partnerships with artists like Logan Hicks, Samsung Art Store has been bridging the gap between public art and everyday consumers, bringing intricate details, expressions and impressions closer to users than ever.
 
Samsung Newsroom had the privilege of connecting with Logan to discuss his creative process and inspiration and how his partnership with Samsung Art Store helped push the boundaries of his craft.
 
Logan Hicks is a highly acclaimed artist based in New York, renowned for his intricate photorealistic urban landscapes. By using multiple layers of stencils, he seamlessly blends urban aesthetics with extreme precision and detail.  
 ▲ Logan Hicks’ artistic process (video courtesy of Logan Hicks)
 
 
Inspiration and Influences: From Baltimore to California and Beyond
Q: Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your career as an artist? How did you come to work with stencils?
 
After running a successful commercial screen printing business, I decided to focus on my art and moved from Baltimore to California. I tried hand-cut stenciling and fell in love. The process is similar, but stencils are painstaking and not exact. I embraced this challenge and learned to create deep detail with multiple layers.
 
▲ Logan Hicks
 
 
Q: What is your passion that inspires your art?
 
Travel is both my inspiration and antidepressant. Seeing new countries, people, places and cultures has always helped keep my eyes open to how utterly fantastic the world is. After I travel, I am always excited to get back into the studio.
 
I also find a lot of inspiration in New York City. The way the city changes throughout the day and year — it has a life of its own. During the pandemic, it was especially interesting to see a vibrant city empty. It was eerily beautiful.
 
 
Q: Could you walk us through your artistic process from the photographs you start with to the final product?
 
I don’t usually go into detail about my process just because it’s easy to confuse the process for the product. About 75% of my time making art is the laborious process of image preparation, stencil cutting, bridging the stencils, etc. To explain briefly, I take photos, break them down into various levels of contrast, cut them out, spray them on top of each other and then carefully paint the lights. My stencils aren’t the kind that you can just roll over a solid coat of paint — I slowly bring out the image with small sprays of paint that I build up.
 

 
 
Q: What is your favorite step in your artistic process?
 
My favorite step is creating and choosing a mood for my artwork. Will my scene be exacting or painterly? Will it depict the solitude of the evening or the vibrancy of a bright day? One set of stencils can be painted in many ways, and I like figuring out which one is best.
 
 
Q: What partnerships have you worked on over the years that stand out to you?
 
I find that the most successful partnerships are the ones that have the least direction, at least for me. Finding a company that grants freedom to do what I want is paramount for a successful collaboration. A few that come to mind are the Bowery Wall I painted for the Goldman family in New York and a partnership with Porsche for their electric car at Scope Art Fair.


Logan Hicks X Samsung Art Store
Q: Why did you choose to partner with the Art Store?
 
An artist only has two reasons to continue: to make art and to present the art to an audience. For me, Samsung Art Store was an outlet to showcase my art — it was a new approach to displaying my art, and for that reason, I found it interesting. Living spaces these days continue to get smaller and smaller, so I saw this as a way of sharing multiple artworks instead of hanging them on limited walls.
 

 
 
Q: How does displaying your work on The Frame compare to other media you’ve worked with (e.g., canvas, brick/concrete walls, billboards)?
 
Good art should be able to translate to various mediums: canvas, walls or digital. The Frame was an interesting platform just because you don’t have control over where it will be hung or what household will download what artwork — it was fun to find out which of my pieces had the most universal appeal. When you make work for a specific location (like with a mural), you have to consider the neighborhood, lighting, surface of the wall, etc. The success of a mural is based on your ability to adapt to the environment. With The Frame, though, it was a case of plucking those works off the wall and putting them into a digital space — the attention was 100% on the artwork that was created instead of the environment that it lives in.
 

 
 
Q: How does your signature technique of blending colors through aerosol contribute to the visual appeal of your work when displayed digitally?
 
I hope the audience can appreciate my work on multiple levels. For example, you only observe the subject matter at a distance before you start noticing the details as you get closer. Once you’re inches from it, the execution becomes clear — from the way the colors blend to the tiny dots of aerosol paint that make up the surface of the image.
 
My work has nuances that are difficult to see on traditional digital displays. I’ve been happy with how the matte display of The Frame picks up details of the spray paint and the subtle color changes.  The display offers the opportunity to experience the work from various distances as if it exists on a wall or canvas.
 
 
Q: You already have experience in creating large-scale murals worldwide in places like Istanbul, Miami, Baltimore, New York, Tunisia, Paris, etc. How does the Art Store partnership expand the global reach and accessibility of your work to audiences beyond that?
 
I easily forget that 99.9% of the world won’t have the opportunity to see my work in person. When I paint a mural, it’s usually in larger metropolitan areas and in cities where I already have some sort of connection. So, I like to extend my reach to people who may not live in the places I paint. With this approach, someone in the rural outback of Australia has access to my pieces just as someone in the heart of Manhattan does.
 
 
Q: What are your top three picks you would recommend to consumers to display on The Frame? Please give us a very brief explanation of each.
 
▲ The Entrance, 2019
 
This painting is the front of Monet’s house. I visited Monet’s Garden for the first time and instantly felt like I was in a different land — flowers surrounded me like a green fog, and the smell of flowers filled the air. Standing in front of Monet’s house, I imagined what it would have been like to live there. I think about how this was what Monet saw every morning as he walked the garden and returned to his house.
 
▲ Giverny, 2019
 
This piece is also from Monet’s Garden. What I loved the most about the garden is that it’s very rare that you can stand in the same place where a masterpiece was created. I’ve grown up seeing Monet’s paintings in my art history books, on TV and in movies. But when I visited the garden, I realized that I was in the painting. I was standing where Monet once stood as he painted, and suddenly his artwork made more sense to me. Of course, he painted his garden! How can you visit heaven and not memorialize it in a painting?
 
▲ Axon, 2018
 
I have a soft spot for Paris: the culture, food, art and architecture. I love it all. This painting is a scene that you see when you walk outside the Gare De Lyon train station. I can remember when I took the photo that I used as inspiration for this piece. My friend asked me, “Why would you take a picture of the street? It’s ugly. It is the train station that is beautiful.” The wonderful thing about being a tourist is that everything is new and fresh.  To me, the street was just as beautiful as the train station. That is the power of a good painting — it can enchant the most boring scenes.
 
 
The Intersection of Technology and Creativity
Q: As an artist known for your traditional artistic techniques, how do you navigate the intersection between traditional art forms and the digital world?
 
Art is a language, and learning to speak it in different arenas is critical to the success of an artist. I don’t put too much thought into what is traditional and what isn’t. I just try to consider what the work will look like scaled down to the size of The Frame. I try to think about what pieces have enough complexity to remain on the screen in someone’s space for an extended period.
 
 
Q: What unique opportunities does the digital art platform offer for artists like yourself?
 
The main opportunity I see for the digital space is access to a new audience. Someone may not spend thousands on my painting, but they may download an image of it. I’d like to think that sometimes that may even translate into someone then going out and buying a physical copy of a painting.
 
It’s also a great way to reach an audience that does not traditionally go to galleries. Art is most successful when people can see a little bit of themselves in it, regardless of whether that is a feeling, experience, thought or mood. That isn’t limited to an art museum attendee. Finding people and connecting with them through art is something that can be done on a much larger scale through a digital platform.
 
I love the opportunity to reach new audiences who may not have appreciated art before. The art world can sometimes be guarded; The Frame gives new fans an opportunity to consider living with art.
 
Visit the Samsung Art Store in The Frame to explore more of Logan Hicks’s collection.
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