The Apple Watch is a thing of absolute beauty.
The Curpertino-based company isnt exactly known for left-field approaches to product design.
Its all about evolution, about tinkering and perfecting.
This leads to clear aesthetic growth across its products.
Well, in everything but the Apple Watch.
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And now compare that to this years Series 6:
Theyre remarkably similar.
But apart from that?
So why has the Apple Watch design stayed so similar?
There are three main reasons: brand, function, and customizability.
Reason 1: brand
The Apple Watchs design has become classic.
Think of it as akin to AirPods.
Apple wasnt the first company to create a product in that vein and shape, but it popularized it.
The Apple Watch owns peoples brain space.
Its recognizable, something it’s possible for you to spot from afar.
And this is where function comes in.
And this is a deliberate move.
In other words, it forgoes some elements to thrive at others.
Now lets think about Apple.
But it gets worse.
Its designed to be paired with bands and straps, meaning that the users themselves can design it themselves.
Simply, theres no other Apple product you’re able to change the aesthetic of so readily.
If you want to get a feel for the variability,have a look here.
Or on Apples store.
When you consider this flexibility its clear why the body design has barely changed: it doesnt have to.
There are an almost unlimited amount of aesthetic options out there and Apple can always just implement more.
Why shoot for a crazy design if this is the goal?
Whats the future of the Apple Watch design?
Throughout the piece, weve already discounted a few things.
At least until technology advances.
Effectively, its a smartwatch with a flexible screen, so it bendsaroundyour wrist.
I could see Apple incorporating flexible display technology into the Watch at some point.
And thats the key thing here.
Apple is in no rush to change its wearables design.
Its functional, its recognisable, and its beautiful.
Itssales are increasingand it seems more popular than ever.
Fundamentally, why fix something that aint broke?
And the Apple Watch design is in rude health.
