ShiftCam ProGrip: The Ultimate Ergonomic Mobile Battery Grip

Empowering Mobile Content Creators with Comfort and Convenience

ProGrip empowers users in every step of their mobile creative journey. Instantly gear up any mobile device to shoot, dock, and review content on-the-go. The ergonomic design, featuring a familiar rubber grip and index finger shooting, provides comfort for prolonged creative sessions. With wireless charging capability, users can focus on content creation without interruptions. ProGrip is also expandable as an accessories rig, allowing for a customized shooting experience.

Form follows function as the main design mantra for ProGrip. The compact enclosure holds the key components, while the rounded and organic yet minimalistic design language ensures portability and comfort. The unibody construction, made from recycled polycarbonate plastic, not only provides strength but also contributes to sustainability. ProGrip is so comfortable that it disappears within the experience, allowing users to stay in the moment and enjoy creating the content they love.

Technical specifications of ProGrip include dimensions of 16cm(W) x 7cm(D) x 9cm(H), a thermoplastic polyurethane grip element, a universal symmetrical clamp system, and 3 PCBs with over 70 components. It features a Bluetooth shutter button, 15W wireless charging, 20W PD charging output via type-c, and 2 lithium-ion 18650 battery cells with a total capacity of 6700 mAh. The design also includes 30 molded components made from recycled polycarbonate and expanding capabilities for an industry-standard cold shoe mount and 1/4 inch screw thread.

The ProGrip project started in November 2019 with concepting and preliminary engineering. In June 2020, ProGrip was launched on Kickstarter as ShiftCam's biggest product launch yet. Within two months, the project successfully raised over USD700,000 with over 4000 backers. With key project management in Hong Kong, engineering in the Netherlands, and assembly in China, production of ProGrip will begin in May 2021, and the product will officially launch in retail in July 2021.

Extensive research on the habits of photography enthusiasts revealed their reluctance to switch from DSLR to mobile due to the lack of balance and comfort in mobile shooting. ProGrip's ergonomic grip design and Bluetooth shutter button recreate the DSLR shooting experience for mobile. It is a product that empowers users' mobile creative workflow at every stage, allowing them to gear up, shoot, edit, review, and share their content on-the-go.

The design process for ProGrip faced challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. With team members spread across the globe, effective communication and alignment between stakeholders without face-to-face meetings proved to be the most challenging task. However, the team overcame these obstacles to create a product that truly enhances the mobile content creation experience.

ProGrip has been recognized for its outstanding design and creativity, receiving the Bronze A' Design Award in the Camera and Photography Equipment Design category in 2021. This award honors designs that exhibit strong technical and creative skills, contributing to quality of life improvements and making the world a better place.