Explorations

Re-Imagining the iPod

The iPod is over 20 years old, and while it's far from certain that the device will ever make a comeback, this concept has imagined what it would be like if Apple decided to bring back the music player, click wheel and all.

The Original

It is 2024,

And the UI feels cumbersome, albeit not without its charm. Let's imagine an iPod Classic, but with more screen and less chrome in the UI.

Present Time

Thought Process

In his latest instalment of 'Explorations', designer Alexander Zarnis has produced an iPod classic for 2024, following the flat aesthetic that Apple introduced with the iPhone 15 and iPad Pro.

The shiny metal back of the original iPod is nodded to on the sides, but not on the back because Alexander has chosen to imagine that the fictional 2024 model will embrace wireless charging.

Alexander has considered the tiniest details, like refining the typography, to much larger details like redesigning the icons, and developing a grid system that allows the design to achieve a harmonious relationship between individual elements.

He also envisions Apple would not include a 3.5mm headphone jack, instead opting for a wireless experience centred around AirPod use.

The Details

With single purpose devices it's easy to go crazy with what you can display on a larger screen. Saying "no" to that is an example of respecting white space, and resisting clutter and in turn, projects the importance of what is being displayed.

Less is more