Ocean Series
Wi-Fi 7 Gaming
Home Gateway
Shaping Performance into Product Identity.
As Gemtek’s first flagship model for the Wi-Fi 7 generation and a key product for overseas launch, this project needed to communicate more than a technical upgrade. It had to make next-generation performance visible through a distinctive and memorable product presence.
With its high-performance positioning, my design strategy focused on gaming users who value speed, control, and immersive experiences. Instead of following the common gaming-product language of exaggerated mechanical aggression, I aimed to create a more refined and premium performance expression. The design draws inspiration from the dynamic tension of sports cars and the streamlined power of the orca, using a forward-leaning stance, sculpted side surfaces, vertical lighting, and controlled mechanical details to create a product that feels powerful, emotional, and distinctive without becoming overly aggressive.
This design direction later developed into a full 2023 product program. I was responsible for carrying the concept through ID development, CMF definition, 3D refinement, prototyping, and pre-mass-production confirmation, ensuring the final product could translate a bold design vision into a feasible flagship gateway with strong market presence.
Client
Gemtek
Year
2022-2023
Designer
Joel Chang
Contribution
Concept Development
Industrial Design
User Experience
Color, Material and Finish
Prototyping
Project Background
A Flagship Launch for the Wi-Fi 7 Era
As Gemtek’s first flagship model for the Wi-Fi 7 generation and a key product for overseas launch, this project needed to communicate more than a technical upgrade. The design had to express speed, stability, and next-generation performance through a product presence strong enough to stand out in the gaming market.
Wi-Fi 7 Flagship
First flagship gateway with next-generation performance and technology.
Global Launch
Designed for overseas markets with strong product identity and recognizability.
Gaming Focused
Targeted at gamers who expect speed, control, and immersive experiences.
User Insight
What Gamers Really Care About
The goal was to define a refined gaming identity through personalized lighting, thermal-driven details, and an iconic silhouette—delivering performance with a premium, controlled presence.
Premium Light Personalization
Dynamic lighting, personalization, and on/off control allow users to fine-tune the mood—satisfying the desire for a subtle yet confident touch of showmanship.
Cooling & Stability
Stable thermal performance is essential for long gaming sessions. Airflow-driven details and stronger ID features reinforce both cooling efficiency and performance confidence.
Iconic Visual Identity
A distinctive silhouette and refined proportions create a premium presence—making the product feel elevated, recognizable, and unmistakably flagship.
Inspiration
Sports-Car Tension Meets Orca Hydrodynamics
The design language draws from two sources of performance: the poised aggression of sports cars and the streamlined power of the orca. Sports-car references bring speed, tension, and precision, while the orca inspiration adds fluid strength, intelligent motion, and a commanding Ocean-Series identity.
Sports Car
#Speed #Tension #Precision #Aerodynamics
Orca
#Fluidity #Strength #Intelligence #Flow
Key Ingredient
Sculpted Light Flow
Inspired by the orca’s streamlined body and the dynamic reflections of performance cars, the design uses flowing highlights to express speed, tension, and controlled power.
The curved surface captures a sense of motion, while the dark glossy finish and sharp light contrast create a premium, distinctive visual identity.
Key Ingredient
Sculpted Technical Details
Beyond the racing-inspired surface language, the design further develops detailed ID features through layered openings, precise parting lines, and sculpted structural elements.
These details add depth, precision, and a subtle sci-fi mechanical character, enhancing the product’s technological expression without making it overly aggressive.
Key Ingredient
Aerodynamic Concept
The side frame lines are highly slanted and neat, creating a dynamic profile as if the car has entered a wind tunnel test, giving the product a sprinting look. Each curve is full of dynamic sense as if the design itself embodies the pursuit of speed and the concept of fast internet connectivity. You can't ignore its presence no matter where it is placed.
CMF Strategy
Lunar White
Cool White + Stellar Black + Mica Powder
A cool white main body contrasted with Stellar Black details, expressing precision, clarity, and a futuristic sci-fi character.
Enhanced by purple lighting, the CMF direction delivers a galaxy-inspired visual impression, while fine mica shimmer adds subtle depth and a premium finish.
Mist Sea Blue
Blue-Gray + Mica Powder
A calm blue-gray finish inspired by mist, ocean tones, and soft metallic reflections.
The mica powder adds subtle depth under changing light, giving the product a refined and premium appearance without feeling overly aggressive.
Cooling Design
Thermal Performance, Designed Into Form
By integrating thermal engineering with industrial design, the product transforms airflow requirements into visible design features. Vent openings, internal heat paths, and sculpted surface details work together to improve cooling efficiency while reinforcing the product’s technical identity.
CAE airflow and thermal mapping were used to validate the design direction, ensuring stable performance during long gaming sessions and heavy network loads.
Mockup Stage
CMF and Cosmetic Quality Control
During the mockup stage, I reviewed and refined ID/CMF parts across plastic and metal components, focusing on color accuracy, texture consistency, gloss control, label application, assembly gaps, and mechanical feasibility. Working closely with the ME team, I helped resolve tooling limitations, wall-thickness risks, parting-line issues, and structural details to align design intent with production quality.
