The latest model PIXMA MP620/MP630 has been downsized significantly compared to the previous model. Could you tell us what was behind this downsizing?
Ikeda: The first catalyst was comments from our customers. We heard many of them say, “I went to shop for a inkjet printer only to give up buying it because it was too big to place in my house”. In response to their voice, we made a compact body our prime goal at the earlier stage of development for the latest models. From there, engineers of each group and designers started discussing what was an acceptable size if they had one in their own house. Then, we came to a decision about the target size we shared.
Shimamura: We, the design team, had started working before the reduction ratio of the body size was decided. Not knowing the actual size to be, we were persistently seeking for the very design that only a compact body allowed us to materialize. Our pursuit bore fruit and we could change design drastically. Without downsizing, we wouldn’t have seen this design.
Ikeda: After a lot of reviewing, we have achieved 11% decrease in volume compared to the existing model (the MP610) by reducing the height and depth in particular.
Will you explain your ingenuity used in new PIXMA design?
Shimamura: A compact body allows us to make its design simple since we don’t have to work upon it. In other words, we don’t have to break a body into some parts, nor raise here and dent there so as to make it low-profile. With the aim of perfect design to set a new standard for home printers, we first worked together with engineers to discuss how to trim down the size as much as possible.
What we discussed the most was the paper feeder of the rear tray. By reducing its size, we can reduce the depth of the machine itself. If we make the paper feeder too small, however, it will end up being user-unfriendly with insufficient room for a hand to load paper. As I was preoccupied with better operability while trimming down the size, I took the initiative in designing the paper feeder by showing engineers how we would like to have it with a cardboard model I made. We spent a lot of time on discussing how to make the body smaller, so that some of my idea was materialized.
The new PIXMA series has a gentle look.
Shimamura: Our previous design concept was a sense of technologies. So, we employed an intricate and intellectual look hinting at the high printing performance, say, high resolution. Today, however, printing photos at home is becoming the norm with the popularization of digital cameras. In light of the fact that we are more exposed to printers than before, we worked out a new concept for the new series: relaxing and comfortable to use. We aimed for pleasant presence in the living room by rounding off four corners widely and combining the rounded corner with the delicately curved side surface.
Could you tell us what you were particular about in designing the details?
Shimamura: Easy-Scroll Wheel on the operation panel is renewed. We gave a gentle look to its slip stopper to blend it with the wheel itself. We have made the wheel sensitive to light touch so as to reduce a sense of machinery. This kind of improvement in operability was one of our prime objects.
