In recent weeks, Samsung has defended the plastic design of the Galaxy S5 in interviews and in blog posts on its own site, explaining that the phone packs less bloatware than previous flagship devices, and releasing ads that send a “Galaxy S5 is cool” message. All this happened while Samsung also had to defend itself yet again against Apple’s copycat allegations in a second trial it eventually lost.
Despite these marketing attempts to create further buzz around the phone and dispel criticism for plastic design policy, Samsung isn’t happy with its own choices, as it has just removed its head of mobile design from his position, somewhat contradicting its design rhetoric.
However, the person appointed to replace him also had an important role in the Galaxy S series design so far.
Chang Dong-hoon offered to resign last week, Reuters reports, and will be replaced by Lee Min-hyouk, a designer who was internally praised for his role in the Galaxy S series design, becoming the company’s youngest executive in 2010. Chang will not leave the company and will remain within the design team to oversee the team’s overall design strategy.
“The realignment will enable Chang to focus more on his role as head of the Design Strategy Team, the company’s corporate design center which is responsible for long-term design strategy across all of Samsung’s businesses, including Mobile Communications,” Samsung said.
