The ESSNZ Berlin is tooz’s first pair of smart prescription glasses with augmentation capable of all-day use. The glasses seamlessly integrate individual vision correction with a virtual display and a sleek, normal frame. With advancements in slimness, weight, and efficiency, the ESSNZ Berlin meets consumer demands for prolonged usage, connecting to smartphones via Bluetooth for a range of functions like weather updates, navigation, calls, messaging and voice assistance.
Research
Brand and Design Strategy
Industrial Design
CAD Modelling
Design Engineering
Visualisation
Prototyping
Product Designer | Jonathan Yim
Senior Design Engineer | Simon Korazija
Launched in 2022
The curved waveguide guides the light from the display from the side in the temples to the wearer’s eye. To the wearer, the image emitted from the display appears at around an arm’s length away in their field of vision. Unique to the ESSNZ Berlin is the SWAP system, which allows for the lens to be swapped easily to adapt to changing needs. Furthermore, the custom designed TRUFOLD hinge enables the glasses to be folded normally whilst housing delicate power and data flex cables.
The lightweight, compact and prescription-ready tooz Optical Engine allowed us the freedom to design a pair of smart glasses with little compromise. Taking inspiration from the thousands of frames on the market, the design of the frame is purposely subdued and unpretentious. It demonstrates that a pair of functioning smart glasses with augmentation does not need to be bulky or ugly. The ESSNZ Berlin comes in three frame widths with the largest and medium sizes featuring a more squared shape, while the smallest variant has a more rounded frame. This highlights the versatility of the tooz Optical Engine in giving designers the freedom to explore a variety of frame designs.
Balancing the requirement for a rigid frame to house delicate optical and electronic components with the typical flexibility of glasses frames proved challenging. However, extensive user testing led to the successful creation of a comfortable frame through iterative adjustments to its shape, dimensions, and the inclusion of a TRUFOLD hinge, enhancing conformity to the user’s face and overall comfort.
Designing the frame for injection moulding also posed a significant challenge due to its complex curved form. Close collaboration with the optics and engineering team were crucial to achieve an optimal design that was injection mouldable without compromising on design, functionality, or cost. This collaborative effort between design, optics and engineering ensured that the final product met all requirements and standards set forth by the project.
tooz technologies GmbH, established in 2018 as a spin-off of ZEISS, operates as a B2B engineering and licensing company. Initially formed through a joint venture between ZEISS and Deutsche Telekom, tooz is currently under full ownership of ZEISS. Their core objective revolves around enhancing conventional prescription glasses with digital screens. Leveraging their expertise in optical systems, tooz pioneers the creation of smart glasses, catering to both prescription and non-prescription needs, thus unlocking a diverse range of applications spanning industries and end consumers alike.
