Overview
When Google needed to introduce the world to their groundbreaking Android XR-powered smart glasses prototype, they wanted to make an iconic visual statement. And what’s more iconic than The Bot, Android’s beloved mascot? So, to hype the launch of new glasses powered by Android XR, the Android team partnered with Smash Design to reimagine The Bot as a six-foot-tall eyewear model!
It turns out that even robots look cooler in a slick pair of shades!
Process
The challenge was creating larger-than-life Bot statues that embodied Android’s playful personality while serving as functional, interactice display pieces befitting a cutting-edge technology brand. Each sculpture needed to be photogenic, travel-ready, and capable of sporting different eyewear styles from classic frames to AR goggles.
Our process included:
- Strategic Design Planning: Working directly with Android’s marketing team to ensure each six-foot foam sculpture captured the Bot’s iconic proportions while incorporating structural support for large eyewear displays.
- Precision Foam Sculpting: Carving each Bot from high-density EPS foam using our CNC routers, carefully calculating weight distribution to create sculptures sturdy enough for interaction yet lightweight enough for cross-country shipping.
- Modular Eyewear Integration: Engineering attachment points that allowed The Bot to model various frame styles—regular glasses, shades, and goggles—without compromising the sculpture’s structural integrity or the mascot’s charming expression.
- Durable Finishing: Applying specialized coatings that captured Android’s signature green while creating surfaces smooth enough to complement the high-tech eyewear without creating a visual distraction.
- Transport-Ready Construction: Developing a modular assembly system that allowed each six-foot Bot to break down for shipping, then reassemble quickly at any venue—from tech conferences to pop-up experiences.
All the welding, sculpting, and fabrication was completed by the Smash Design team at our Texas studio before we delivered the finished pieces to Google’s exclusive California launch event.
Result
The finished Bot statues became launch-event photo magnets, with dignitaries and attendees alike lining up to pose next to the towering mascots sporting Google’s latest futuristic frames. The sculptures really bridged the gap between approachable brand personality and cutting-edge technology. They make AI-powered eyewear feel like science fiction that’s close enough to touch (or wear).
These playful giants were built to travel light, drawing crowds and creating shareable moments that amplified Google’s launch campaign. By giving The Bot a new role as 3D eyewear model, we helped Android XR make a spectacular first impression in the competitive smart-glasses market.
We love working with Google, and this Android project perfectly demonstrates how our seasoned team of multidisciplinary artists combine technical precision with a whimsical eye for brand storytelling. We create interactive brand experiences that don’t just display products; they literally embody the innovation behind them. If Google Android glasses can look this cool, suddenly AI doesn’t seem so scary!
