Ammunition Collaborates with Adobe on Ground-breaking New Hardware "Project Mighty" Smart Stylus and "Project Napoleon," Digital Ruler

SAN FRANCISCO, May 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The renowned industrial design firm, Ammunition, is proud to introduce the first results of its collaboration with Adobe Systems Incorporated — the software giant's first foray into exploring hardware products. Adobe debuted the "Project Mighty" stylus for tablets and the "Project Napoleon" digital ruler at their annual MAX conference during the May 6, 2013 morning keynote.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130513/NY12389 )

Michael Gough, VP of Experience Design at Adobe, used the two products onstage at the MAX conference, demonstrating the seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud and Kuler software, and the pressure sensitive nature of the "Project Mighty" stylus, which helps it draw a natural and expressive line and can access cloud based content via the stylus into the application at hand. In a blog post about the event, Gough wrote "Although we spend many hours a day behind the keyboard and mouse, we still often start the creative process as we did thousands of years ago with pen and paper. But with tablets and new input methods like Mighty, this is going to change – I am confident."

ANALOG FOR THE CLOUD

Ammunition's team of designers have collaborated with Adobe to produce "Project Mighty", a Bluetooth-enabled cloud pen for the iPad and iPhone, and "Project Napoleon," a Bluetooth, multifunctional straight edge for the iPad as well as accessories such as a unique desk-top charging dock that highlights the spire-like nature of the pen. "We partnered with Adobe on a variety of hardware explorations to create a holistic and thoughtfully designed product experience," said Ammunition founder/partner Robert Brunner, "We all understand tools, and the pen and ruler are the most iconic instruments embedded in our idea of drawing and writing, but they haven't been effectively introduced into the digital world. The form language, the feel, and the integration into Adobe's services and products had to be right while also creating an object of desire – something beautiful and alluring." 

The simple, elegant "Project Mighty" stylus is first and foremost an incredible drawing tool made of high-end materials and finishes, with a design that incorporates architectural influences while remaining ergonomic. "The materials we're using needed to be straightforward and honest, which is why aluminum feels and looks like aluminum, and plastic looks like plastic. We wanted something simple and pure but also very different and unique," said Brunner.

Of the design, Brunner added, "the twisted hydroformed aluminum body is a smooth, flowing gesture with a slight taper toward the front giving it a nice forward movement. The plastic on the rear end and of the nozzle works great functionally by giving an antenna window and an insulation area, but also creates a good balance to the form." The twisted triangular shape is highly ergonomic and was inspired by triangular rubber pencil grips used by young schoolchildren.

The Ammunition/Adobe design team collectively sees the Project Mighty stylus as a "Cloud based pen for the post-PC world." These new physical device concepts come in the wake of big changes for Adobe as the software company announced its movement toward a more cloud-based subscription model, and continuing focus on Creative Cloud, the company's flagship offering for creative which prioritizes frictionless creative workflows across desktop, web and mobile applications. Going forward, the "Project Mighty" stylus and "Project Napoleon" straight edge could possibly provide a unique cloud-connected interface for this range of Adobe applications.

ABOUT AMMUNITION

The driving force behind some of the most iconic and beloved products and services of recent years, including Beats by Dr. Dre and the NOOK by Barnes & Noble, San Francisco-based Ammunition was founded to create and communicate brilliant ideas through products, brands, and their surrounding experiences.  Ammunition holds the elusive key to designing products that revolutionize markets and drive businesses.  In other words, they know the secret to making really cool stuff that people love and buy.  Led by Robert Brunner, founder/partner, Brett Wickens, creative director/partner, and Matt Rolandson, partner, Ammunition's clients include Adobe, Nike, Kohler, Square, Lark, Barnes & Noble, and Williams-Sonoma, among others.  For more information, please visit www.ammunitiongroup.com.

Press Contacts:
Vivian Wu
Ammunition
415-632-1170
[email protected]

Chao Wang
Kwittken + Company
646-747-7156
[email protected]

SOURCE Ammunition