Ke'Don Franklin Design™ | Industrial Designer

Unlocking the Future

A Story On Defining A Design Language

whoop sportflex™

WEARABLES

2024

Inspired by a basic shape and evolving it into a solution of functional form to create an all new band. The iconic pill-shape serves as the base of design and is applied in each aspect applying proportion to create the function. The pill peaks and valleys fosters ventilation and comfort for the user when worn. The sculpted of the nose serves as an integrated release point and slider safe. This pill shape motif is also consistently reflected in the band's details, including the metal hardware, creating a cohesive aesthetic true to the Whoop. The choice of silicone dove the design form by playing up its benefits of maintaining shape but flexing to the users needs and also having the opportunity for a strong CMF story.
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Materials: Silicone, Aluminum
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Launched June 2024 (Available for purchase on Whoop.com)

Role: Industrial Design Lead | Whoop ID Team

Lux & Pro

wearables

2022

This design experiment was conducted to create a category of products with the same design language for the purpose of serving two different user groups. This experiment focused on size and features as its dividing factor, and I used color, material, and finish to relate each product to its perceived user group. Overall the outcome is a design language that can be replicated and translated to other form factors establishing a visual brand.
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Materials: Aluminum, PC NMT, Silicone, Glass, PVD Etching
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Status: Prototyped 2022

PL SENIOR Industrial designer

9 years

Ke’Don Franklin is a multifaceted industrial designer in the tech hardware design space. He is directly responsible for conducting research and developing creative strategies for concept development with measurable results. He has extensive knowledge of materials, ergonomics, and product solutions for large-scale user-focused projects.
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Projects Launched: 27

watch Pro 1

Process

2022

The Watch Pro Series 1 and Lite are modern, minimalistic smartwatches packed with features you'll appreciate. Straight surfaces and clean lines make this a fashionable timepiece that won't look out of place in any environment. This independent project produced by Ke'Don Franklin showcases his skillsets in all areas of design, production and business as an industrial designer.

Materials: Aluminum, NMT PC, Ceramic, PVD, GCG
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Status: Prototyped 2022.

Amazfit gts 4 mini

WEARABLES

2022

Designed to celebrate materials through elegant forms that embrace the technology. the GTS 4 mini is a stylish smartwatch has a lightweight yet strong aluminum alloy middle frame integrated into the sleek watch body, and comes complete with a soft and skin-friendly silicone strap.
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Materials: Aluminum, PC , Silicone, Glass
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Status: Production 2022. Available Here
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Role: Industrial Design Lead | IZepp ID Team.

xiaomi watch s1

WEARABLES

2022

Designed to celebrate materials through elegant forms that embrace the technology. the GTS 4 mini is a stylish smartwatch has a lightweight yet strong aluminum alloy middle frame integrated into the sleek watch body, and comes complete with a soft and skin-friendly silicone strap.
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Materials: Stainless Steel, PC, Silicone, Sapphire Glass
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Status: Production 2022. Available Here
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Role: Industrial Design Lead | Zepp. ID x Xiaomi ID Team.

Photography: Xiaomi Marketing

watch Pro 1

WEARABLES

2022

he Lite Smartwatch has ECG built right into the mid-frame, with a 6-point heart rate sensor for the most accurate readings. The 42mm watch size is perfect for those with smaller wrists who still want to wear a smartwatch.
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Materials: Aluminum, PC NMT, Silicone, Glass, PVC,
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Status: Prototyped 2022

Watch 1 lite

WEARABLES

2022

Watch 1 lite

WEARABLES

2022

Lux smartwatch

WEARABLES

2023

Lux smartwatch is a Gen 3 concept of evolving my design language into this retro future aesthetic that is simplistic with refined curvature and unique manufacturing process to make modern technology feel new. This is one of two designs to use the approach of metal fused glass, making the design more compelling and also durable. This new approach to elegance is one of many reasons for developing a lineup of familiar portfolio projects and concepts and bringing them into a new light.
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Materials: Stainless Steele, PC, Silicone,GG-Glass
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Status: Prototyping Q4 2023

headphones a1

Headphones

2023

Headphones created to expand design language into other categories while implementing future forward approaches of modularity and solid materials. The over-head headphones are constructed from metal-injected molded aluminum, formed textured foam, and stainless steel fixtures, making a lightweight, durable design that matches a lifestyle user. With emphasized proportions of the controls and a limited number of buttons, this direction makes it easy to use and understand out of the box.
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Materials: Aluminum, PC, Silicone, Foam,PVD
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Status: Concept Refinement

watch Pro 1

WEARABLES

2022

Amazfit x

PACKaging

2021

Rethinking how we approach packaging. Amazfit X packaging was designed to versatile by serving as a case and charger base beyond packaging. This new approach unlocked a new experience for our users by bringing value to what would normally be waste..
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Materials: PET, Recycled PC
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Status: Production 2021. Available Here
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Role: Industrial Design Lead | Designed by Zepp. ID Team.

g1 Sports buds

Headphones

2021

G1 Sports Buds inspired by Sony Walkman designed to be a stand-alone product that stores music internally for active users. The rotating crown with haptic touch empowers the user to control volume and play selection, all without a host device. Recapturing Walkman's iconic movement to the mobile and audio era.
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Materials: Aluminum, PC , Silicone, PET
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Status: Prototyped 2021

stylus & Dock

mobile

2022

Experience the power of creativity wherever you go with Mobile Stylus & Dock. A minimalist and compact design to help you create and draw out ideas comfortably. Our minimalistic design fits perfectly in your bag and has stain and scratch-resistant materials that are also friendly to your device. The holder rests at 40 degrees for an optimal mobile experience in landscape view mode. Stay connected and comfortable while creating your masterpiece – whether it's a sketch, painting, or illustration – with the superior comfort and control our dock offers.
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Materials: Aluminum, Inductive Silicone
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Status: Prototyped 2022

mobile keyboard

tech

2022

Mobile Keyboard Pro is a compact, versatile and intuitive keyboard for your phone. It has an ergonomic design for typing easily and comfortably wherever you are. Using landscape view offers a more in-depth experience by adding extra screen real-estate. You'll get all the benefits of a full PC keyboard without the bulk. Current build is for iPhone Plus models 13 -14.

Materials: Aluminum, Silicone, PC
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Status: Ev1 Q2 2023

Pro Phone 2

TECH

2022

This new phone design uses a pill shaped flat surface with an embedded camera array. The back side resembles a glass like texture while the frame is polished metal with a smooth radius edge for compressed grip comfort. The silhouette of the phone is designed to maximize screen-size for an edge to edge experience.

Pro’s expressed indention and structured form is made possible with an innovative process of fused metal to ceramic. To create its premium finish, the body is forged together then refined through the CNC process and then polished to capture the smoothness of the indention.
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Materials: Aluminum, PC , Silicone, Gorilla Glass
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Status: Prototyping Q1 2023

KéDon Franklin Design

Dreamers still exist. Do what you love, with love.

A formula to be revealed.

back to the basics.

Reshaping a tool, for the lovers of tennis.

Sketching made easy with friendly forms and commonly used with a case.

Download and 3D print your own, an ORIGINAL for you.

A refresh of classics.

Headphones designed to capture you attention.

A take on eyewear.

A perspective of completion.

A combination of focused elements.

Clever construction with ECG built into the frame.

The lux collection that's shaping a vision .

A refreshed era.

A new season.

This season is about focusing on refinement.

Whoop's first silicone band, SportFlex™

Whoop's first silicone band, SportFlex™

A perspective on simplicity applied to luxury fashion tech wearables.

This season is about focusing on refinement.

A tool that will reshape how we use our phones as they become more powerful & essential to our everyday life.

A perspective on modular headphones.

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