# The Creative Camera Control Button on the iPhone 16: Perspectives from Designers
In a recent episode of the **Cool Hunting** podcast **Design Tangents**, two prominent designers behind the iPhone 16, Rich Dinh and Johnny Manzari, shared their insights on the creation of the new Camera Control button. This feature aims to improve the photography experience for users, enabling them to seize special moments with increased ease and immediacy.
## A New Design Perspective
Rich Dinh, a senior product designer with Apple since the very first iPhone, emphasized the significance of approaching every new generation of the iPhone with a novel viewpoint. Regardless of his comprehensive experience, Dinh and his team constantly strive for inventive methods to enhance user experience. He expressed his gratitude for the Camera Control button, underlining its usefulness for parents:
> “I have two little ones, a two-and-a-half-year-old and a six-year-old, and they both do the most amusing things… having camera control, being able to get you up and running and capture that video… There are probably videos I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.”
## Evolving from Traditional Cameras
Johnny Manzari, a human interface designer, discussed his transition from conventional DSLR cameras to utilizing the iPhone for photography, heavily influenced by his family experiences. He noted that the iPhone’s convenience allows for more spontaneous and enjoyable interactions with his kids:
> “It’s simply much easier to spend time with your kids when you’re not hauling a lot of gear… You can hand the camera to a little child, and they can snap a great photo, but you can also pass it to a professional photographer… and they can utilize the same tool to enhance the entire experience.”
## Seizing Every Moment
The design team’s main objective with the Camera Control button was to guarantee that users never miss a moment. Dinh and Manzari explained that the foundation of their design was not just adding a button but rather enriching the entire camera experience:
> “We didn’t begin with the thought of how and when we could add that button. We started by asking how we can draw nearer to our vision in the camera experience, which is never missing a moment?”
## Considerate Design Elements
The designers focused closely on the button’s design, ensuring it fits seamlessly into the current iPhone experience. Dinh described the button as flush with the phone’s surface, which gives it a natural feel during use:
> “[We were] careful with all the tiny details… We’ve included a slight chamfer to provide that delightful half press and full press experience.”
Additionally, the button is designed to comply with IP68 water resistance standards, guaranteeing its durability. The materials used consist of sapphire, stainless steel trim, and aluminum, all of which are color-coordinated for a unified appearance.
## An Innovative Technological Advancement
The Camera Control button incorporates a distinctive blend of force and capacitive sensors, a first for Apple. This groundbreaking technology introduces new opportunities for user interaction:
> “This is the first time we’ve combined a force sensor and a capacitive sensor on a mechanical button, which opens up many new experiences.”
## Final Thoughts
The iPhone 16’s Camera Control button signifies a remarkable leap in smartphone photography, merging thoughtful design with cutting-edge technology. By focusing on user experience and the spontaneity of capturing life’s moments, Apple continues to reshape the possibilities in mobile photography. For those wishing to explore the design process further, the complete discussion is available on [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nerdy-details-the-apple-iphone-16s-camera-control-button/id1678592489?i=1000670180961).
For additional details regarding the iPhone 16, visit [Apple’s official page](https://www.apple.com/iphone-16-pro/).
