Mu He Design Studio

Designed in 2023

Wearable Device
Accessory

Suunto in-house Design Team
in Vantaa, Finland

Suunto Vertical is Suunto’s newest flagship product launched in 2023. It aims to be the most extreme outdoor equipment with top-tier features.

The industrial design process officially began in mid-summer 2022, with the concept phase led by Mu. After numerous explorations of forms and expressions, the development process shows how the watch evolved step by step into its final appearance.

According to the brief, the mechanical construction of the Suunto Vertical had to remain based on the Suunto 9 Peak and Suunto 9 Peak Pro. As a result, certain key dimensions could not be altered, including the bezel thickness, sealing methods, and more.

Starting with a survey, we wanted to understand how customers perceive the “outdoor-adventure” design language by comparing Suunto 9 Peak with competitor watches (Garmin / Coros) as well as concept designs.

The survey was conducted both internally and externally.

The results show that while customers engaged in outdoor activities appreciate the simplicity of the Suunto 9 Peak, many design elements found in competitor watches are perceived as more rugged and tool-like. 

These elements are most commonly found around the bezel and button areas.

Suunto has never been a follower of market trends in design. Since users value the simplicity of the 9 Peak, we aim to differentiate our design by introducing more visual depth and layering, particularly around the buttons,while still maintaining a minimalist aesthetic. The bottom-left image demonstrates this direction, featuring enhanced textures and a refined interface.

Ensure design coherence through a soft body paired with sharp corners.
Refine the design with detailed treatment across different scales.
Introduce more layering into the unified body structure.
Incorporate stronger brand-specific visual cues.

Does a protruded layer increase the likelihood of accidental touches?
What about using a recessed (sunken) layer instead?
If the current Suunto 9 Peak design is perceived as not cohesive or soft enough, could a sunken layer help create a more unified, rounded form?
Can the watch take inspiration from the fashion industry in terms of how branding is integrated?

Learning :

1. When textures are too fine, they become nearly invisible.
2. The “instrument-like” feeling is not very strong.
3. Could the lugs be perceived as too weak?

Can the lug be designed to appear strong while still maintaining visual unity with the rest of the frame?
If the differences between layers are too subtle, how can we make them more visible without compromising the overall coherence?
If the added texture is too fine, can we explore alternatives beyond traditional knurling?
If the branding starts to feel too close to fashion, can it be limited to the 9 o’clock side, usually a more discreet area?

Learning :

1. Structural separation in the lug area may compromise stability.
2. The instrument-like feel is still not strong enough.
3. The buttons occupy too little visual space and are almost unnoticeable.
4. Many conservative comments have been made regarding the bold 9 o’clock logo.

If the assembly were reversed—not from top to bottom, but from bottom to top—could the layered structure of steel–plastic–steel be unified into a single steel body?
If the buttons feel too anonymous, how can they be given more visual emphasis?
If conservative feedback on the logo is mainly about its size, what if we retain the original circular design but reduce it in scale?
What if we decrease the fillet radius to make the design tougher and more instrument-like, taking reference from the Suunto Elementum Terra, which is often considered a successful example of an outdoor device?

Learning :

1. Reversing the assembly order presents too many challenges.
2.Sunken button layers may appear too discreet.
3.As a result, the sense of layering still feels insufficient.
4.If the lugs are directly connected to the top surface of the bezel, the device looks overly bulky.

If the top-to-bottom assembly must be retained, the lug design has to revert to the original version.
It’s difficult to recess into the body at varying depths to create layers; instead, it’s easier to build layers by protruding at different heights.
As a result, the protruding design around the button area needs to be reintroduced.
Since more layering is desired, what if the middle plastic layer also protrudes slightly from the body?

Learning :

1. Logo integration is still missing.
2.Since the watch is targeted at the high-end market, the overall design expression should feel more premium. It should imply a stronger, more refined metallic presence.

Now we are getting closer to the right direction.
Given the requirement for sufficient antenna performance, is it still possible for the buttons to be made of metal?
On the left, we have the same design language with softer edges; on the right, the edges are sharper.

Learning :

1.Two large side buttons may increase the risk of accidental presses.
2.If this direction is correct, some may start questioning whether the level of detailing is sufficient when compared to reference instrument designs.

To avoid accidental clicks, what if the protruding plastic element serves only as the base for the buttons?
Can we also explore and integrate other detailing elements into the design:
1. Knurling on the bezel
2.Print on the back of glass
3.Texture on the buttons
4.Inkfill on the front panel

The concept development is now complete.
This direction is confirmed, and the next stage is to finalize the product.

Concept design often goes beyond immediate production constraints, as it aims to envision possibilities ahead of the current reality.
As this concept moved into the finalization phase, the following adjustments were made:
               1.  The original lug and metal back case were replaced with the existing Suunto 9 Peak case back.
               2.  The plastic middle section, initially divided into four parts (the main case and three separate button bases), was merged into one single component.
               3.  Metal buttons will be much taller than in concept. 
               4.  Inkfill now has an option to be placed on top of the plastic button base.

Once the Creo model was created, the process became a close collaboration between industrial designers and mechanical engineers.
The iterations take usually longer than people’s imagination, involving numerous refinements, including:
               1. Adjusting the taped angle of the plastic case.
               2.Splitting the profile of the bezel from one into two surfaces. ( chamfer it )
               3.Adding subtle bumps to the bezel
               4.Refining details such as the fillet radius of the buttons and their precise placement.
               ......Many many more.

Now you have a small glimpse into how the new Suunto Vertical came to life.

Hope you enjoy reading this design material.
For more information, please visit the official Suunto website.
Mu