Designing for a Frictionless Experience

Client
ID&C + Atlantis Dubai + Vantage

Year
2024

Overview

Atlantis Dubai approached ID&C Wristbands with a challenge: their new hotel and water park system worked well, but the accompanying smart wristband was uncomfortable, unattractive, and off-brand.

Challenge

Understand why the existing wristband failed guest expectations.

Redesign a smart wristband that:

  • Integrates seamlessly with the park’s system

  • Reflects the Atlantis brand

  • Offers a smooth, comfortable guest experience

  • Is durable with a 3-year battery life

Discovery

  • Deep dives with stakeholders including the client and their software systems and hardware suppliers

  • Review existing wearables to identify pain points and opportunities

  • Gather technical specs of existing systems and product

  • Understanding client brand and goals

Define

The issues with the original wristband were identified (pictured left):

  • Bulky geometric shape, not elegant

  • Harsh rubber material, uncomfortable when wet

  • Minimal branding potential

  • Complicated strap design

Group of people showing their colorful smartwatches with QR codes, with a boy in a red graphic T-shirt standing among them.

I designed a new wristband using my deep experience with wearable design and technology:

  • Miniaturized technology to create a slimmer form factor

  • Integrated a 3 axis accelerometer with smart power management, activating only when worn

  • Adopted a sleek, round design no larger than a watch

  • Replaced rubber with soft-touch silicone, testing different hardness levels for comfort and durability

  • Introduced a ribbed strap backing to reduce friction when wet

  • Swapped the complex strap for a classic watch strap made from durable zinc alloy, tested in pool and spa conditions

Develop & Test

A digital drawing of a smartwatch and a white wristband with a round face, along with a side view of the wristband and a close-up of a small part of the band.

Deliver

  • Oversaw prototyping, tooling, and mass production

  • Collaborated on colorways and branding using marbled silicone effects and screen printing

  • Ensured product met quality, durability, and brand standards

Results

  • 100,000+ wristbands in active use at Atlantis Dubai with ongoing orders

  • Significantly improved guest comfort and brand experience

  • Design adopted by the client’s systems provider as their new standard wristband

Final Color Ways
Guests - Instagramming their wristbands
Technical drawing Wristband
Technical drawing technology insert
Sanitizer testing effect on material print and hardware
Scan distance testing prototypes