ShiftCam ProGrip Mobile Battery Grip

Press Kit

Unique Properties

ProGrip empowers user mobile creative workflow in each step of the journey. Users can instantly gear up any mobile device to shoot, dock, (re)view content on-the-go. The ergonomics achieved by familiar rubber grip, index finger shooting, and improved balance adds comfort to a mobile for prolonged creative sessions. Paired with wireless charging capability to allow full focus on content creation without interruptions. Also expandable as an accessories rig for a customized shooting experience.

Dimensions & Packaging

16cm(W) x 7cm(D) x 9cm(H), made from (recycled) polycarbonates plastic, thermoplastic polyurethane grip element, universal symmetrical clamp system, 3 PCBs with over 70 components in total, featuring Bluetooth shutter button. 15W wireless charging, 20W PD charging output via type-c, contains 2 lithium ion 18650 battery cells (total 6700 mwah), with 30 molded components from (recycled) polycarbonates. Includes expanding capabilities for industry standard cold shoe mount and 1/4 inch screw thread.

Tags

Mobile Accessories, Battery Grip, Photography, Videography, Content Creation

Production Technology

With form follows function as the main design mantra and ergonomics as the key focus, we created a design with a compact enclosure to hold the key components. As portability and comfort are important attributes to the user, we adopted a more rounded, organic yet minimalistic design language. Having a strong and smart unibody construction also allowed us to build it with a high degree of recycled plastic. This product is so comfortable that it disappears within the experience as the users are shooting, so they can truly stay in the moment and enjoy creating the content that they love.

Design Challenge

ProGrip was created with the full mobile creative workflow in mind to offer an all-rounded solution. Every component was built from the ground up to support its intended functions. Designing this complex product in the times of COVID has been a challenge. With the project team members spread out across the globe, being able to effectively communicate engineering changes and create alignment between all stakeholders without meeting face to face has been the most challenging task we encountered.

Project Duration

The ProGrip project started in November 2019 with concepting and preliminary engineering. In June 2020, ProGrip was launched on Kickstarter as ShiftCam's biggest product launch yet. Within two months, the project has successfully raised over USD700,000 with over 4000 backers on Kickstarter. With key project management in Hong Kong, engineering in the Netherlands, and assembly in China, production of ProGrip will begin in May 2021 and the product will officially launch in retail in July 2021.

Operation Flow

The ergonomic design of ProGrip makes it an intuitive product that is easy to use. Any user can pick it up and instantly begin shooting without a learning curve. As our target audience are smartphone users who have experience shooting on mobile, they won't need to adapt to a new workflow - ProGrip will integrate seamlessly into their current processes. With a product that is so accessible and easy to use, anyone can be empowered to become a mobile content creator and tell their unique stories.

Research

Researching the habits of photography enthusiasts, we realized that they are reluctant to switch from dslr to mobile due to the inherit awkwardness that comes with mobile shooting. It lacks the balance and comfort DSLR provides. ProGrip's ergonomic grip design and Bluetooth shutter button recreates the DSLR shooting experience for mobile. It is a product that empowers users' mobile creative workflow at every stage, so users can gear up, shoot, edit, (re)view, and share their content on-the-go.

Inspiration

Today, mobile devices have become one of the main sources for asset creation. Although convenient and assessable, shooting on mobile lacks the balance and stability that a DSLR offers. We aim to solve this dilemma with ProGrip, an ergonomic solution that recreates the DSLR shooting experience for mobile. With an ergonomic design paired with wireless charging capabilities, ProGrip keeps content creators shooting all day in comfort, while seamlessly fitting into the full mobile creative workflow.

Image Credits

Image 1: Creator Armand van oord, Progrip Rendering 1, 2021.
Image 2: Creator Armand van oord, Progrip Rendering 2, 2021.
Image 3: Creator Armand van oord, Progrip Rendering 3, 2021.
Image 4: Creator Armand van oord, Progrip Rendering 4, 2021.
Image 5: Creator Armand van oord, Progrip Rendering 5, 2021.

Colors of ShiftCam ProGrip Mobile Battery Grip