As China’s commercial real estate sector continues to mature and consumer spending power rises, shopping malls have become an indispensable part of economic life. Participating in pop-up events, attending celebrity meet-and-greets, shopping across different stores, and joining the crowds in bustling streets—these experiences can all unfold within a shopping mall. But what’s more important is that everyone can find their own sense of fulfillment within these spaces.

In fact, consumer behavior and self-expression are often intertwined, a phenomenon particularly evident among young people. Young consumers place greater emphasis on personalization, have a higher tolerance for new trends, and prefer to visit popular shopping districts or trendy stores to check in and make purchases. Targeting young-oriented commercial spaces, Fengniao Innovation recently designed a self-service vending machine for a self-service provider that combines new experiences and services—a DIY phone case printing machine.
Phones are now an integral part of our daily lives, and as an indispensable companion in our daily routines, the appearance of a phone is also a concern for many people. As the saying goes, “People rely on clothes, and horses rely on saddles.” A smartphone typically has an average lifespan of two years from purchase to disposal, and its case can be easily customized and replaced. Users can not only choose their preferred design but also immediately obtain a case compatible with their smartphone model. What challenges must be addressed when designing a machine capable of DIY phone case printing?

01 Product Positioning

The product must provide a convenient DIY phone case service and ultimately deliver the finished product to the user. When deployed in high-traffic commercial areas, users discover the machine → use the machine → obtain the finished product, and each step requires corresponding design work. In the early stages, the product’s functionality and appearance will be the key focus of attention. The machine itself needs an eye-catching design with unique visual elements.
During use, the convenience of the interface and process will impact the user experience. In the final stage of receiving the finished product, how the product is delivered from the machine to the user’s hands is a key focus of structural design work.

02 Usage Process Analysis

The DIY phone case machine provides self-service, requiring users to operate it independently to use its functions. Considering the user experience of self-service, the machine’s usage process must be as smooth and straightforward as possible. During the usage phase, Hummingbird Innovation conducted a rigorous analysis of the product’s usage process.

03 Product Structural Analysis

The internal and external structures of the product must align with its functions. The Hummingbird Innovation hardware team conducted a rigorous analysis of the product’s hardware movement components.

Additionally, optimal implementation solutions were derived for the machine’s internal optoelectronic sensors and motion mechanisms, and corresponding R&D efforts were initiated based on hardware requirements. Considering the final product delivery and component storage, the internal structural functional zones were strictly divided.

04 Aesthetic Analysis

Based on the internal structural stacking space, Hummingbird Innovation determined the optimal machine exterior dimensions. The product adopts a vibrant color scheme, with the main functional area resembling a smartphone, effectively conveying the product’s functionality and making it easy for target users to interpret.
New Species Meet Personalized Needs
When you want to obtain a new phone case, in addition to the case design, there is another issue to address: matching the phone model with the case.
Customized self-service machines optimize the DIY service process, making DIY simple. The smartphone case DIY printing self-service machine seamlessly integrates these two needs. The machine automatically identifies the smartphone model, and users select options and make payments via a mini-program. After a short wait, they receive a custom smartphone case tailored to their preferences. This product, deployed in the core areas of commercial districts, will lead a new wave of self-service innovation.