Imagine a drawing display that has been designed to put the artist at the centre of every element. It’s something you probably think you’ve already used – after all, if a drawing tablet functions then surely it’s user-focused. But you’d be surprised at how much further a tablet could go when a design team’s quest is to make that drawing tablet an extension of you, to unlock your creativity in a way you haven’t ever experienced.
That was the mission behind the new XPPen Artist 12 3rd, which has been developed with a revolutionary industrial design and is set to redefine the way artists can work with drawing displays. The new model is a massive leap forward in technology, based on research into how artists interact with their tablets and removing any barriers to the freedom of expression artists crave.
Before we go any further, it’s important to note that this revolutionary tablet does not come with an expensive price tag, it’s still an affordable model that serves entry level digital artists but without sacrificing any of the revolutionary technology or swaying from the all-important design philosophy.
The new X-Dial control
The X-Dial design is at the centre of the tablet’s upgraded functionality. User analysis finds that creators adjust settings in software like Photoshop every 2.5 seconds – and this can be disruptive to the creative flow. But the X-Dial seeks to solve that issue with scroll, which has muscle memory advantage and speeds up the traditional process by 66%. With movements ranging from thumb to knuckle flicks, the surface was designed to be non-slip and ergonomic.
Creating an immersive creative experience is multi-sensory, and the dial helps to serve that goal. “Sound is part of the interactive quality,” Li Jiang, Senior Industrial Designer at XPPen, explains. “We set an acoustic goal of "crisp but restrained" for the X-Dial, ensuring each "click" is as precise and pleasant as a mechanical wristwatch”.
It might feel jarring to change your creative flow to using a dial, but according to Jiang, user testing showed that it was remarkably quick for artists to get used to the new workflow. Initially, about 30% of users felt confused by the changes, but after 2-8 hours of work, 80% of users were confident using the function and understood that “left hand controls the whole, right hand focuses on creation."
“The test results validated our judgment,” Jiang says. When users personally experienced the seamless, fluid operation where mind and hand unite, they spontaneously embraced this change and regarded it as an evolution of their own creative ability.”
X4 Smart Chip stylus
There’s even a new stylus to pair perfectly with the Artist 12 3rd – the X4 smart chip stylus, and its design is equally as user-centric. It is designed to be ultra-comfortable, with a new oval shaped barrel replacing the traditional round shape. “When the user picks up the pen, the fingers instinctively land on the flat areas on both sides of the oval, forming a stable grip that is less prone to rotation,” Jiang explains. Apparently this disperses the pressure on the fingertips, so they won’t get as sore. And the stable grip reduces the micro-rotations of the pen in hand so it’ll be more precise – especially useful for drawing long lines or detail.
Another annoying niggle the shape solves is the stylus rolling away on the table. This sounds small but is undoubtedly one of the main interrupters of flow. The fact it will stay in place when you put it down is a “silent, ever-present assurance,” says Jiang, which adds to the idea the system is a constant companion you can trust creatively. And the XPPen Artist 12 3rd is the first display to support magnetic attachment, takes away that irritating search for your stylus, making it more portable and easy to carry – and less likely to be damaged in transit. Testing was done on the magnetic capability, to make sure it is the perfect level of adhesion, and the positioning on the top edge of the device follows psychological patterns for returning an object to its place.
Artist 12 3rd design philosophy
Inclusivity, Focused and Companionable are the three pillars of the Artist 12 3rd design philosophy, according to Jiang. And those elements are at the heart of the streamlined design and technology.
“Inclusivity means breaking down barriers ensuring every creator can stand equally at the starting line of creation, regardless of their physical conditions or work environment,” Jiang explains. “The essence of Focused is to make the tool itself recede into the background, allowing creativity to take centre stage. Companionable represents the warmth in our design. We intend for the Artist 12 3rd to be a partner that understands user needs, alleviates anxieties, and is worthy of entrusted creative moments.”
This philosophy translates onto the tablet through unflashy design that includes no needless distractions. Fiddly onscreen menus are replaced by the X-Dial, which allows artists more convenient shortcut operations at the flick of a thumb without disrupting creative flow. A minimalist aesthetic and understated colour scheme – now refined to Black and Silver Grey in a “rejection of over-decoration” makes sure artist attention is not pulled from creation by the physicality of the tablet. That minimalism also includes a reduced bezel, so the surface area is utilised fully with a larger and improved paper-like screen.
Aesthetic philosophy
But this focus on enhanced functionality doesn’t mean the tablet’s aesthetic appeal is diminished. Jiang says that the pursuit of ultimate function should go hand in hand with aesthetic quality. “For the Artist 12 3rd, our aesthetic philosophy is "Rational Elegance," which is mainly reflected in three aspects: form, material, and interactive experience,” she explains.
The unified design is seamless, exuding stability and confidence through its clean form, and the design honours the materials with the belief that beauty can be perceived through touch – for example the X-Dial surface underwent a micro-arc oxidation treatment to make it hard and scratch resistant that feels completely different from plastic. Interaction was tested rigorously to make it pleasurable rather than just functional – when you flick and rotate the X-Dial there’s the perfect amount of resistance.
The XPPen Artist 12 3rd and X4 Smart Chip stylus is a transformed experience for artists and designers, designed purely to maximise creative flow and remove distractions, whilst building trust in the canvas as a constant creative companion. You can find out more information on XP Pen’s website.
