Pierre Fredenucci
Mood board for my speakers. I used pictures found on the Internet but also picture I took myself at electronic music shows.
Concept: Detachable Speakers
Challenge
Design for Audio Technology
What: Autodesk & Real Industry design challenge
When: March 2017
Skills: 3D modelling, visual design
Where: University of California, Berkeley
Challenge
Autodesk and Real Industry organized a world wide design challenge for Audio Technology. It consisted of designing either a speaker, a headphone or earplugs using solely the design software Fusion 360. Participants have to consider aesthetics, comfort, mobility, performance, and personalization.
I decided to design speakers. First I looked for inspiration to come up with an original visual design. Being passionate about electronic music, I very often see live performance of artists and always pay attention to speakers - how they look and how they are displayed. In addition, I wanted the speakers to have a modern and elegant look, so that they can fit easily in any living room. I thought about a "hive" type of design when I saw a picture of storage unit for wine bottles. I found it to be geometrically attractive and a "fresh" design that is why I adopted it. I built a mood board and used it to model my speakers. Below you will find some of the pictures that inspired me.
Next step was to find a new and innovative user experience. I early on decided to design indoor speakers so I used my personal experience as I listen to music in my place everyday. In my opinion, sound quality is the most important characteristic for a speaker. However I am always frustrated that I cannot adapt my speakers to the room I am in. Hence sometimes I will have to increase the volume to compensate a bad acoustic of the room. This is how I came up with the idea of detachable speakers. I imagined a central unit on which four speakers would be able to slide. Therefore the listener has the possibility to place each of the four speakers wherever he wants for a better stereo listening experience.
I also wanted a speaker to be big enough so it can include all the necessary components but I did not want it to be too cumbersome. Each speaker is 10 cm wide and about 20 cm long. Being detachable, the speakers will be easy to carry. All together they will have enough power to be used either for recreative or professional purpose (music producers).
The user experience can also be pushed forward if you consider a mobile application linked to the speakers. In addition to the spatial localisation of the speaker, it would give the listener the possibility to adapt the volume of each speaker individually. Speakers could also have sensors to measure the quality of the room's acoustic and the application would provide advice on the best way to place the speakers considering the room they are in. While I am confident about the manufacturability of four wireless speakers linked to a central unit, I am unsure about the feasibility of such an application.
Rendering of my speakers. The bottom left speaker is detached.
