Mobile10: Ben Scott-Robinson
Interviews with key mobile influencers
- Name
- Ben Scott-Robinson
- Role
- Creative Director
- Company
- We Love Mobile
“we need to start designing products for the newbies. Android stuff is getting too complicated at exactly the time when 'normal' people are getting Android phones.
”
Two things that caught my eye from this interview with Ben Scott-Robinson. Firstly, Ben's viewpoint on simplicity, particularly pertaining to the number of 'newbies' who are joining the smartphone revolution on Android. Secondly, Nokia and Windows - often battered by the moberati - come in for high praise from Ben for usability and the occasional flourish.
What's your app of the moment?
I am loving Forger for the iPad. I can't sculpt in the real world, but this allows you to virtually create something out of raw 'clay', export it into a 3D package (where you can tidy it up), and then (if you have the cash) get it 3D printed. That is outrageous - something considered pretty much impossible for 'normal' people even a year ago.
What is your primary phone?
Nokia Lumia 800 - Windows Mobile has blown me away. It is not only usable, but has lovely flourishes. Deleting an email has never been so fun. Please please can there be more apps though?
Which mobile startups have you got your eye on?
Eagle Eye Solutions of course! Would you bet against Russell Buckley getting it right again?
What is the biggest challenge facing the mobile industry and why?
Challenges? I thought we were ruling the world! Seriously, we need to start designing products for the newbies. Android stuff is getting too complicated at exactly the time when 'normal' people are getting Android phones. Once people work this out, there will a whole range of mobile products for a whole new demographic. Getting NFC banking to work for the mass market is also a challenge, and the effects to this will be monumental.
What are you currently working on?
We have five major projects going through at the moment. All with tier one clients, and all of them contain things that have never been done before. They range from games to brand engagement apps to an m-commerce site to shopper marketing campaigns. This is a great time to be alive.
What will be the biggest opportunity in 2012?
Either making buying on a mobile the natural choice when out shopping, or making AR into something that is more than a faddy and painful waste of time.
Who are your 3 rockstars in mobile?
Of all time?
Matt Jones - Creative Guru. Now a partner at Berg, but has a career in mobile creativity that'll knock your socks off.
Jaakko Iisalo - Head designer for Angry Birds. Everyone has a great game in them...
Marek Palowski - Founder of MEX. The only person who seems to be looking beyond touchscreen phones at the possibilities of mobile interaction.
Who were you working for 10 years ago?
Hutchison Telecom, sitting in Maidenhead, designing the first commercial 3G, colour screen mobile experiences. The genesis for so much which is standard now.
Who was/is your best boss?
Simon, Gary, Gravy and Nick from Deepend. All I want from We Love Mobile is that it will be as much as an influence on mobile creativity as Deepend was for creativity on the web. You know. Nothing major.
Who else should we interview and what would you ask them?
I would like you to interview Matt Jones. I would ask him to bugger off and give someone else a chance ;-)
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What is Mobile10?
The Mobile10 interview is a series of profile pieces on leading global influencers in the mobile sector. Each interviewee is asked to give their viewpoints on new mobile innovations and growth opportunities as well as revealing their own mobile habits over the course of 10 questions.
