THe Ladybug
Portable FM Transmitter For Mobile Phone
2007 for Seneka, Inc.
Seneka, Inc. was a small startup company specializing in IT software and electronics engineering development.
They were ambitious and aimed to develop their own branded consumer product to grow their business. After successfully developing and launching their first product with me, they asked me to work on their second—a portable FM transmitter for mobile phones—targeting the growing demand for car hands-free devices, driven by the widespread availability of mobile phones in Korea 2007.
Define the Best Way to Approach Consumers
Seneka had already developed the software and made the components as compact as possible when the conversation began. However, the key question was how to approach consumers in a way that makes the product impactful on its own. To answer this, I focused on use cases. People will carry and use this device alongside their mobile phones, meaning it will always be with their phone. Based on that, my suggestion was to design the product as a mobile phone accessory. This approach maximizes the benefit of portability enabled by its compact size. The design concept was then developed with an emphasis on striking the right balance between showcasing the technology and blending seamlessly as a mobile phone accessory.
Transformable Ladybug to Fit Your Needs
The Ladybug is designed with a transformable shape that shifts from a full circle to a half-moon, reflecting different use cases, just like real ladybugs resting on leaves or in flight. You can simply rotate the bottom half to close it into a full ladybug shape when not using it as an FM transmitter. This makes it a small, cute mobile phone accessory.
The Ladybug comes in a variety of bright color options inspired by real ladybugs, offering a wide selection to match different mobile phones and personal styles.
The package was designed using recycled paper to make it eco-friendly, reflecting the Ladybug’s original inspiration.
*The Laybug was sold only in South Korea, and Seneka Inc. closed its business in 2012.
Design Team: Joongoo Lee (Industrial Design Lead / Project Lead) and Sungpil Lee (Project Manager)
Design Credit: Seneka, Inc. Suwon. South Korea. / Joongoo Lee and Sungpil Lee