BRAND FOCUS Patton Design partnered with Mitsubishi to redefine the television remote control experience at a time when increasing technological complexity was overwhelming consumers. The objective was to create an exceptionally intuitive, ergonomically refined device focused on the functions users rely on 90 percent of the time.

The design mandate centered on radical simplification—minimizing microchip architecture and battery requirements while achieving an ultra-compact form factor comparable to the size of a pen.

 
 


SUCCESS The resulting product represented a breakthrough in human factors design. By stripping away unnecessary complexity and prioritizing clarity of interaction, Patton Design created a remote control that delivered unprecedented ease of use.

The innovation resonated strongly with consumers frustrated by overly complicated electronics and inspired a broader industry shift toward simplified remote control architectures.

The design was recognized with the 1990 IDSA Gold Award—one of the highest honors in industrial design.

1990 IDSA Gold Award Winner

 
 

RESULTS The Mitsubishi remote became a benchmark for ergonomic simplicity, influencing subsequent generations of remote controls across the consumer electronics industry.

The project established Patton Design’s reputation for human-centered innovation—demonstrating that disciplined simplicity can redefine user expectations and reshape product categories.

Consumer audio + video environment products typically last a maximum of 6 months, while Doug’s PRM-1 for Mitsubishi lasted 10+ years in their product line.