Compact Digital Camera

Pathfinder

See. Your Way.

Compact Digital Camera.

How can a camera be simplified for hobbyists on the go,
without sacrificing functionality and precision?

Skills: Solidworks, Keyshot, AI Workflow (Mid Ideation)
4 Weeks | 2025

Pocket Cameras
Aren't Dead.

They Just Never
Evolved.

A Real Throwback

Remember those digital point and shoot cameras
that came into popularity around the early 2000's?

They were pretty useful…up until they weren't.

Common Issues In
Compact Cameras

Big Sensors,
Big Bodies

Larger sensors meant
bulky cameras—true
pocketability was lost.

Zoom vs Size
Trade Off

Optical zoom required
extending lenses, making
cameras less compact.

Low Low-Light
Performance

Smaller sensors and slow
lenses meant low night
and indoor performance

Smart Phones
Took Over

Convenience beat quality,
compact cameras just
couldn't keep up.

Who Is This For?

Well compact digital cameras went under for a reason,
aren't smartphone cameras already really good?

Yes but also no. You give up control for convenience.

The prevalence of smartphone cameras have created
another gap in today's digital camera market.

How do we design a camera that addresses all the
issues we established? Our focus is to balance:

Speed, Control, and Quality.

A New Way
To Capture

Full manual control, precise dials, and a
tactile interface—built for a hands-on
shooting experience anywhere, anytime.

No More Fussy Screens

Easily adjust key settings such as iso, shutter speed,
and aperture with clear intuitive dials. Why lock them
behind cluttered and confusing layers of menu screens?

Familiar Shutter

Like most shutter buttons, half-press to
auto focus and full-press to capture.

Visualize Automatic

Watch the dials spin in Auto mode, giving
instant feedback and showing settings to
help new photographers learn as they shoot.

Built with Purpose

The front features an LED flash, autofocus sensor,
and a mic. The long lens barrel fits an impressive
70–200mm focal range.

Upgradable Storage

Pathfinder includes mini SD, SD card slots,
and a USB-C port for versatile connectivity
in both pro and everyday use.

Easy Access Media

Easily transfer, organize, and share photos
and videos through the desktop and mobile
app—create albums and share with friends!

Quick Charging Dock

USB Type C charging dock allows for fast
charging and light speed data transfer.

LED Status Indication

The LED flash is used to indicate charging
status (green) and data transfer (blue).

Convenient Ports

Clever spacing lets fingers plug in cables without
hassle. making everyday use fast, fluid, and flexible.

How Did We Get Here?

Ideation for this project began with defining
the core architecture. My instincts led me
toward more analog interactions.

The hobbyist photographers I spoke with often
mentioned experiencing “menu fatigue”—a
frustration caused by modern digital cameras
with overly complex, layered settings menus.

Interaction Informing Form

Initial exploration of more animated ways of interaction,
specifically through enlarged dials and squared forms.

Vizcom AI Ideation

Incorporating new AI tools into the ideation workflow.
Hover over the images for additional notes and takeaways.

A: Leaning towards "friendly robot"
with dual lenses that look like eyes.

Interesting CMF, gunmetal grey
with a pop of color to highlight.

Pronounced asymmetry,
enlarged lens and a smaller lens.

eh

Rougher texture with larger grip

Charging base?

white and orange

incorporated mic?

glossy plastic shell

textured molded pattern for grip.

More cylindrical

Fabric body seems interesting,
but might attract sweat

Astronaut aesthetic, 360 lens,
fabric button, maybe plush?

Illuminated trim or detail lines

B: A smaller boxy form with intersecting
motifs, maybe even a lanyard hole?

Fully metallic machined body
with dual lenses, swappable?

Chamfered front profile

eh

matte plastic shell with soft edges

Handle and a slimmer width?

Heavily incorporated fabric strap

Enlarged dials for control and nav

two tone CMF with hollow dial

Plastic bubbly forms with color pop

Molded textured grip with
attachment port and dial

All white body and swooping
rounded edges and silver

Video recording capabilities?

Knurled or heavy texture on dials?

C: Camcorder style, with rotating dials
along the side for settings selection.

Front flash module, extra features?

Pattern break for the controls

Squared bottom grip

Controls are flush with the body

Rounded base + tapering to wide

Buttons/dials don't extend to the
entire length of the camera.

Single tone CMF with smaller
protruding buttons and textured grip

Bulky + slanted top, larger viewfinder

Hope You're Having Fun!

This project is still undergoing some changes so some parts
of the process might be hidden. If you have any questions feel
free to reach out! Thanks for your patience and understanding!