2. KEF was founded in 1961 by Raymond Cooke. The company specialises
in high end speaker systems for the modern market of young, stylish
users. KEF designs their speaker systems to provide an aesthetically
pleasing product, showing innovation and detail, whilst at the same time
providing a high quality acoustic experience for the user, ensuring the
overall quality of the music being sounded remains at it's most realistic
and original quality, as if listening to the artist them selves.
On first impressions of the KEF brand, I would assume that the company
relies more on the quality of the sound coming from their speaker systems,
rather than the design aspect. I feel that this is a valid opinion, as the
speakers they produce do not appear to carry much innovative or
attractive design with them. KEF also seems to boast about the acoustic
capabilities of their systems, which I think is perfectly acceptable as a
selling point, displaying the sound quality of KEF's speaker systems as the
main feature to attract the target customer.
Some of KEF’s speaker systems are very innovative in my opinion, for
example the ‘Muon’ and ‘Blade’ series. These two series of speaker
systems show bold new designs in an attempt to modernise the brand of
KEF, enabling it to truly appeal to the target market. The design of the
Muon system in my opinion, whilst showing innovation is also very
restricting in terms of sales as the price of the system is at an incredibly
high level, making it very difficult to judge whether the system will be worth
investing in or not. The size of the Muon system could also make a sale
less likely, due to many properties not having the height facilities to house
such a system, making the Muon system much more of a commercial
product, rather than a domestic product. The Blade system appears as if it
is slightly more domestically compatible, however the height difference
between the two ranges are still fairly similar.
3. Diaphragm (Cone)
The diaphragm will usually be
made of, paper, plastic or metal.
Composites can be made to
provide a higher performance
cone. The centre of the cone is
covered by a dust cap
Chassis/Frame/Basket
The chassis will always be
rigid to avoid deformities
occurring during use. A
metallic chassis will conduct
heat away from the voice
coils
Surround
The surround runs along
the outer edge of the cone
and helps centre the cone.
The surround is usually
made of rubber. The
surround works together
with the spider inside the
speaker to produce the
suspension system
Spider (Internal)
The spider connects the voice
coil to the frame. The spider
forms the suspension system
along with the surround,
however the spider provides the
majority of the restoring force
Voice Coil (Internal)
The wire used in the voice coil is usually
copper. Aluminium can also be used,
which is able to respond to higher
frequencies, how ever it cannot be
soldered. Voice coils can give varying
coverage in the magnetic gap space.
The voice coil moves back and forth
within the magnetic structure. The gap
establishes a concentrated magnetic
field between the two poles of the
permanent magnet
Driver Magnets (Internal)
Driver magnets are always
permanent. They are made
from: ceramic, ferrite, alnico,
neodymium or samarium
cobalt. Ferrite magnets are
most commonly used in
modern speakers. The size of
the magnet used is changed
to achieve the required goal.
Different shapes of magnet
will affect the interaction
between the voice coil and the
magnetic field
4. Cost
Size
Function
Local Resources
Safety
Eco-Friendly
Weather Resistance
Existing Products
Aesthetics
KEF’s Range
Selling Point
Colours
Shapes
Sizes
Material
Organic
User
High-End
Quality
Acoustics
Material
Function
Type of Speaker
Environment
Outdoor
Indoor
Office
Home
Concert Hall
Type of Speaker
Ergonomics
Safety
User-Friendly
Ease of Use
Stability
Security
Wall Mounting
Voltage / Amps
Edges
Function
Acoustic Quality
Aesthetics
Safety
Environment
Ergonomics
Target Customer
Materials
Aesthetics
High Quality
Strength
Finish
Structure
Safety
Durability
Size
Safety
Stability
Cost
Ergonomics
Packaging
Environment
Resources
5. I am going to design and manufacture a unique high end speaker system to add to the range of speakers sold by the KEF brand.
During the design of a speaker system I should consider my target market and the environment in which I will design the speaker
system to fit into. I am going to design a speaker system which will be both innovative and functional for the user whilst being priced at a
suitable range for my target market. I am going to design a speaker system which will be placed inside the home of a wide range of users. My
speaker system will be designed so that it is cheaper to manufacture and purchase than many of KEF’s other products. This will enable me to design
a speaker system to appeal to much more individuals within the target market.
The age range of my target audience will be young adults, which will mean I will be required to design a product which is innovative and modern in both it’s
aesthetics and it’s function. This group of the market will be more viable for me to design for due to my age, providing me with stronger and more personal views
as to how my design should look.
The basic design of my speaker will be in the form of an iPhone and iPod docking station. I have chosen this to be my speaker design as I personally admire
Apple products such as the iPhone and I feel that docking stations could generally be improved if KEF technology were to be used within the system to produce
a higher quality acoustic effect than any other docking station on the market. This design idea could potentially improve KEF’s reputation as well as drawing in a
younger target market. The docking station which I will design will be more economically viable for the customer than KEF’s other products whilst remaining in
the high end price range of iPhone docking stations
6. The target market which I am going to design a speaker system for, is the age range of 21 through to 30. This is an age group which I will refer to as ‘young
adults’ through out my project. Young adults generally tend to be interested in keeping fit to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a body to show it. The same range of
people will also usually be interested in gaming and technology, such as phones and computers. Expensive and stylish vehicles are also an attraction for young
adults, as they show wealth and style of the user. These aspects will influence the design of my speaker system, providing me with the inspiration to design a
speaker which will be worth the customer’s attention and money. This inspiration will be needed to provide the target market with a product which they will want
to buy into, making the design and manufacturing process of my speaker system economically viable.
Young adults may be interested in investing in a speaker system from the KEF brand because KEF produces high quality acoustic effects from their speaker
systems. This high quality will provide an attractive point of sale for the user due to many young adults being interested in the party life. Some people may like to
host parties at their house with their friends and to make their party stand out from the rest they may be interested in buying the best quality speakers possible
to raise their popularity among their peers.
Young adults may not wish to invest in the KEF brand due to the fact that the majority of KEF’s products are much more expensive than other speaker
brands. This pricing almost prices KEF out of the market, showing KEF has a very minute range of target market in which they design their speaker
systems for. KEF also has very little reputation among young adults, meaning that this range of market will likely not have even heard of the KEF
brand of speaker systems. This also means that people planning on impressing their friends with an expensive new speaker system will likely
choose not to purchase a KEF brand speaker system due to the knowledge that their friends will likely not have heard of KEF and so will not
be aware of the qualities KEF offers in the design of their speaker systems in terms of the acoustics coming from the expensive and
highly engineered speakers within the system. I am going to design a speaker system which will be much lower in KEF’s price range,
in doing so, this will allow younger people to purchase a KEF product and will also raise the reputation and awareness of the KEF
brand among younger people, possibly providing KEF with a wider target market to design and produce for.
7. Logical
A speaker would be used
for a social gathering, such
as a party or concert to play
music out loud for the large number
of people who are attending the event.
Speakers are made logically to
complement the need for some people to
share their music with other people around
them.
The volume of a speaker needs to be correct
according to the use of it. E.g. ear phones
should be much quieter than speaker
systems
Ear and headphones need to be comfortable
to wear for the user so they do not cause
issues for them when listening to music for a
long time
The idea of wireless speakers would be
welcomed by many users as wires can
cause issues or annoyances for people
wishing for their homes to remain neat and
presentable
Creating a speaker system which is
universal would prove to be effective,
meaning that fewer speakers will have to
work from separate sources
The connectivity of a speaker system would
be logical if the system were to feature ports
or connections which are available for use
with many products, such as apple products
or mp3 player inputs
Illogical
Many speaker systems allow the
output of excessive volume which is
not required by the user and may
pose a health risk. Loud music
coming from headphones will cause
problems for the user’s ears and
their hearing
The issue of hygene with in-ear
phones is unattractive for many
users. Some people do not like to
share their in-ear phones because
of the thought of sharing ear wax
Many ear phones have issues with
tangling due to the thin and light
wires being able to wind around
each other when they are being
stored in the pocket of the user
Some people use a speaker as a
platform to store cups and plates
and possibly other items such as
ornaments or artefacts
Many people will often sit down on
a speaker if there is no other
designated place to sit down in the
area. Guitarists may like to sit down
on electric guitar amplifiers
Need
All speaker systems should emit a
clear sound when they are being
used. If the speaker does not play
the required sound clearly, the user
will often return the product to find a
higher quality speaker system which
would be more attractive for their
needs
Volume control may be a
requirement on a speaker system
such as head phones. This may help
the user to have complete and easy
control over the volume of their
music when listening to it, rather than
having to use solely their device to
control the volume
Speakers need to be designed and
built specifically for their use. For
example, bass speakers must be
manufactured to output high bass
effects to create the effect required
by the user.
Keep
If a speaker which may be
used in a speaker design
has a high quality sound
output, everything should
be done to ensure that
this high quality output will
be maintained to supply
the user with the quality of
sound which they wish to
hear from their speaker
system
Ear phones and
headphones will be
required to keep their
portability so the user can
carry their speakers with
them to be able to listen
to them where ever they
go whether it be out in a
town or in a quieter place
such as their own home
8. Scrap
Wired speakers may be an
annoyance for a certain type of user
because of the potential lack of
neatness they create in the user’s
living room. This gives a designer a
good reason to maybe develop their
speaker to lose the wires and
become a fully wireless system
Some speaker systems may be too
bulky or large for a user to be
interested in the product. This would
lead a designer to create their
speaker system around the idea of a
small and compact system which the
user can place anywhere in their
chosen area
Form vs. Function
The branding of a speaker can
often create an interest within the
target market. Many users may
choose a speaker system over
another purely because of the
brand of the other system
The function of the speaker may
strongly relate to the brand of the
speaker, for example, an Apple
branded product will be attractive
to the user because of the brand
name and because of the high
quality of their products which
they design and sell for the target
market
X - Factor
For a speaker system to stand out from
the competitive market, it should feature
many innovative features which when
coupled with an attractive design, will
provide the user with the needs they are
looking to fulfil when considering
purchasing a speaker system
There are many design ideas which
would make a speaker system stand out
from all the rest, for example, a newly
designed speaker system could feature
fully universal technology which would
mean a user can play music through the
speaker system through any device
whether it be an mp3 player or a bigger
system such as surround sound
9. Aesthetics
The aesthetics of KEF’s products are not the key focus of the company, therefore I will attempt to follow this ideology however I will be incorporating
some innovative features into my design as well as taking the form of the speaker system into a little more consideration than KEF would otherwise have
done. The environment in which I will be placing my speaker system will have an effect on the aesthetics of the speaker, in terms of shape and size. A smaller
speaker would be needed in a home compared to a speaker used for social events such as a concert or festival.
Cost
The cost of my speaker to manufacture and to purchase will be affected by the materials used mainly, as well as the overall quality of the speaker system it’s self. I
would like to keep the cost of my speaker down as I believe KEF price them selves out of the majority of the market, which goes to influence me to design a speaker
which will be much more economically viable for many people whilst maintaining as much of the KEF brand quality as possible.
Customer
The customer who will buy my speaker system will depend greatly upon the cost of the system as well as the aesthetics of the speaker. A speaker should be designed
with the target market in mind, contributing worthwhile modifications and improvements to the aesthetics of the speaker to maintain an attractive look for the consumer to
buy into. The type of customer I am going to design for will require a specific style of design to ensure the speaker can generate enough interest and sales to make it
economically viable to produce for the KEF brand.
Environment
The environment in which my speaker will be placed in is one of the most important aspects to consider when designing my speaker. The speaker system must be
designed in a way which will suit the area it is placed in and the way it is placed in the area such as being on the floor, on a surface or on a wall or ceiling. The
environment considered should match the chosen environment of the user, such as a young person living with their parents wanting a speaker system for their bedroom
or an older person wanting a speaker system in their living room.
Safety
Safety is an aspect which should always be considered by a designer and is perhaps the most important aspect of the design, manufacture and use of a product. The
key safety concern with a speaker system is the electrical current running through the device and the cables linking the device to the mains power and also other
devices. Another safety aspect to consider would be the stability of the product when it is placed on a surface. The speaker should be able to stand on it’s own without
the need for aid from another item. This calls for a speaker to be developed as an independent product, meaning it will be able to support it’s self once put to use in it’s
environment with the target user.
Size
The size of any speaker system greatly depends on it’s intended environment as well as the use in which it is designed for. A larger speaker may be used for more
commercial uses such as concerts and parties where as a smaller speaker may be used in a more private and secluded environment such as an average living room or
a bed room. The function of my speaker system will be the key aspect relating to the size as I will design a speaker which will be well suited for both the environment it is
place din as well as the function and use of it.
Function
The function of any speaker is to produce a sound which is determined by the user’s input to a source, such as an iPod or a surround sound system. The function
of one speaker may be more important to the designer than the function of a speaker from another designer. Some speakers may be designed with aesthetics in
mind whilst others may be designed with acoustic quality and function in mind. My speaker design will be focused mainly on either aesthetics or function,
however it is unlikely that I will be able to design a speaker with both aspects at a high quality, given the time I have to design a speaker system
Materials
The materials used in the design and manufacture of a speaker will directly affect both the cost and the aesthetics of the speaker. A speaker which
Incorporates high quality materials will cost more to manufacture and purchase whilst the aesthetics of the speaker will become more attractive
and will give the user something to consider when buying a speaker system, as the materials used may be more important to some than it is to
others.
10. Questionnaire
First Hand Existing Design Analysis
Environmental Snapshot
Person Product Interaction
Market Research
Customer Profiling
Product Profiling
Moodboard
Questionnaire: I am going to construct a questionnaire which will be conducted on a number of people from my target user group. This questionnaire will
consist of questions which will provide me with detailed answers which will show me what my target audience looks for in a product which they are considering
purchasing or investing in.
First Hand Existing Design Analysis: I will select a product which is available for people to buy on the market at the current time and I will analyse this product
to find out what the target user is and how the user uses the product, as well as where the user places the product when they purchase it.
Environmental Snap Shot: I will take a picture with a camera of the environment in which my product will be placed in. This picture will then be annotated and
analysed to show exactly where in the environment my speaker system will be designed for and why I have chosen that area as the environment for my design.
Person Product Interaction: The use which a product is designed for can be seen when the person interacts with the product in a specific way in order to carry
out the function they require. I will take a number of pictures and analyse the interaction between the user and the product to show how a certain type of speaker
system would be used and what uses will influence the design of a product.
Market Research: I will be researching the range of products on the market at the current time. In researching these products, I will find out what new
technology is being released into production and the retailers which are selling the product. The quality of the retailer plays an important role in the sale of
a product
Moodboard: I will take pictures of products and materials from the internet and I will use these to display the features of a speaker system design
which would attract my target audience. These design features will be key in attracting users to my product to purchase it and use it.
Customer Profiling: It will be important for me to create a profile of my target user. This profile will show me what my target user is interested
in and what features will be effective to use in the design of my speaker system. This method of research will also provide a base on which
to grow my research on, meaning that the customer of my product is the most important aspect to consider when designing my product. If
the user isn’t interested in the product, the product wont sell.
Product Profiling: I am going to construct a profiling graph which will feature different products which are related to my target
market, within the audio industry. These products may consist of a range of: bass speakers; headphones; surround sound
systems; amplifiers and other systems which may be used in other events such as small house parties.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
11. The questions I used to formulate a
questionnaire should supply me
with the data I could use to form
a basis for the research which I
will be carrying out on products
on the market and my target
market. These results have shown me
that the majority of people who answered
my questionnaire seemed to not recognise the
KEF brand name when I questioned them about their
knowledge of speaker brands. When asked which other speaker brands are more appealing to them, the majority of people generally thought
that the Bose brand produces the best quality speaker systems of any of the brands which they could think of. Moving back on to the
knowledge of the KEF brand which the people I asked had, I questioned the on what their thoughts are on the pricing of the KEF brand.
My research shows that the majority of people thought that KEF’s products were overpriced or expensive compared to the rest of the
market which are competing with the KEF brand. This shows me that most people would prefer to see a product sell at a lower cost to
the consumer. When asked about which device the person likes to use to listen to their music, I found that in the home, most
people like to listen to a DVD or CD player through their speaker system. The fact that many people admire the products Apple
has to offer the market, gives me a platform from which I would like to design my product upon.
Which of these speaker manufacturing
brands appeals to you most?
Panasonic
Sony
Bose
Other
Have you heard of the brand KEF?
Yes
No
Maybe
What do you think of KEF's product pricing?
Expensive
Reasonable
Cheap
What kind of device would you use to listen to
music?
DVD/CD Player
Games Console
MP3 Player
Are you interested in the range of products
Apple has to offer?
Yes
No
Some
12. This speaker system, produced by the electronics and technology company, Logitech, is designed as a surround sound system, supplying the user with full 5.1
surround sound. This system looks sleek and modern, showing a design ideology to design a product to modernise a home and to change the contrast and
atmosphere to a room, adding a darkened aspect to areas of the room, to improve upon aesthetics and decorations within the room in which the system has
been placed. Having experienced the quality of these speakers, I can say that the speakers generated an appropriate acoustic effect and for the pricing of
the product, a fairly good quality of sound. The speakers are priced at £69.99 and this generates a strong influence with in the market being targeted
by Logitech. This pricing would appear attractive to a wide range of consumers within the market as more people will be able to afford the system
compared to another product in the market which could be competing with this product. The design of the speaker system appears as if Logitech
has targeted an aesthetic appeal as opposed to an acoustic appeal, where as KEF would target the improvement and innovation of the
acoustics of the products they design for the market. The functionality of this product means that the user can control the speaker system
through the use of a basic on and off button, as well as a basic volume dial on the front of one of the speakers. This is clearly displayed
on the picture above which is used by Logitech as a display picture to sell the speaker system they have produced. I feel that this
product is effective mainly because of the low price which is paid to achieve the reliable quality which this speaker system has to
offer. This factor alone could sway a user as to which product they ultimately decide to purchase.
13. The environment in which I will place my product can relate directly to the design of the product as well as the characteristics of the user
which is my target user during the design of my product. The user which I may design my product for could range from minimum wage
earners to higher wage earners in control of larger amounts of money. The images below show a number of ideal environments for the
speaker product which I will be designing. Each of these pictures were taken within a household, showing areas of the house where a speaker
system could potentially be placed. This range of environments means that I should design my speaker system to be fairly small to fit on surfaces
such as a fireplace, or the system could be slightly larger to fill the space of a bedside table or on top of a chest of drawers. I chose these
environments to design my product for as I would like to design a speaker system which could be placed in the home of a selected group of users within
the market. When I come to develop my initial ideas and then develop them further, I will take into mind one of these environments to design my speaker
system to fit in with the environment which I will have chosen by that time.
14. The images shown above, display a clock which I have owned for some time. The clock acts as a radio receiver, mp3 player output speaker, an iPhone and
iPod dock, and of course an alarm clock. This range of features makes this product an effective competitor for other iPhone docks on the market. The alarm
clock system enables the user to set two separate alarms, one could be for during the week, and one could be for weekends. The clock has an internal
calendar which allows it to display the day of the week, followed by the date and month of the year. The functions of the product allow the user to
have a range of inputs into the system to output music and sounds from the speakers in the docking station. This feature allows the user to listen to
music from their apple device or mp3 player, as well as listening to the radio. Should the user wish to listen to music from their apple device, they
should place the device in the specially designed docking station made for apple devices. The user then can listen to their music instantly as the
docking station automatically begins to play the last played track on the device. The docking station also charges the docked device
whilst playing the music and sounds chosen by the user. This feature means the user can leave their iPhone or iPod in the docking station
over night and wake up to the tunes from their device or the alarm sounds from the clock, with a fully charged device ready for the day.
For the user to listen to music from their mp3 player, they will need to connect the player to the station by an auxiliary cable which will
allow the device to output through the speakers of the docking station and the user can change the song which is playing on the
mp3 player, rather than through the docking station. The auxiliary cable does not charge the mp3 player like the iPhone dock
does. This product matches the needs of many users with iPhones who would like a docking station for these reasons.
The interaction the user has with the product they have purchased is a key aspect for the designer and the producer of the product to
consider when carrying out the process of drawing out ideas and developing those ideas into fully fledged designs. The user should be
able to interact with a product in a way which will benefit their enjoyment of the product and also improve the practicality of the product its
self to enable the user to change certain aspects of the product to suit their needs or to use a function included in the design of the product to
gain the full potential out of the product in hand, whether this would be by connecting an external source for music or sound, or by tuning in the
radio to a local radio station to listen to the music played live on air by that particular station. Some speaker systems may also come with a function
which will allow the user to see the time displayed on the face of the unit. These types of speaker system are often clocks which have added speakers
to play music from an input or from a radio. These speakers are also practically used by the clock to sound an alarm to wake the user up at the time which
has been previously designated by the user to suit them. Products need to be designed to suit the modern day market, and to achieve the ability to match
the needs of the wide range of users present in the market, they need to be designed with some degree of customisation or personalisation involved.
15. Modernism is a key concept in the world of design which exists today. The idea of modernism is to create a design which is sleek and will suit the
everyday needs of a range of users. Many products Which are Designed with modernism in mind will feature dark colours, mainly black but can
also be coloured in silver or white shades. Modernism is endorsed by many companies intending on selling to the modern user of the age range
generally in the area of young adults. This concept is deemed attractive by many designers, producers and consumers alike, boasting a range
of methods available to improve the aesthetics of a design whist maintaining a high quality of the internal workings of the product, such as
the acoustic quality of a speaker system. Apple products are both innovative and practical, supplying users with a powerful device at
incredibly small sizes and thickness. The design ideology of Apple leads them to design products which are thin and light weight to
suit the lives of most young people today, whether it is commuting or socialising, or just staying at home in peace. The designs
which Apple incorporated into their products provide me with a great amount of inspiration to develop my product with. The idea
of modernism will play a heavy role upon the production of my speaker system.
16. This is the position on my
product profiling which I want
my product to fit into. I want it
to look modern like a KEF
design, but not as expensive.
This will help broaden my
target market by making my
speaker system more
accessible to people
with a low budget.
Expensive
Cheap
Retro Modern
17. To profile my target customer, I have picked a small number of pictures from various sources to display the relationship between young
people and music and other technological products. These products show the interests and desires of the stereotypical young person,
being male or female. These pictures display a culture which is popular among young people where as this culture would generally not be so
popular within the older generations of people and product target markets. Stylish headphones and watches for example are not especially
attractive to older generations as the idea of the majority of the older generation is to buy a product that works and fulfils their needs, regardless of
the aesthetics or the design of the product they are purchasing for their use. This page will summarise my target user and will provide a backbone for
the following pages of the secondary research section of this project.
18. I designed this moodboard to
display the aspects of design and
products which people in my target
market would be interested in.
These products are often
associated with young people as
technology is advancing and young
people are advancing with new
technology whilst some older
people are being left behind. The
design aspects of my moodboard
display materials which can be
used to make my design look
modern and sleek. The products
shown also show design features
which make them stand out to the
target market as a new and stylish
product to buy and use in their
home
19. My research showed me that my target customer is generally
interested in modern products rather than retro, classic or old
designs and products. I chose a modern design to use for my
existing design analysis, which I personally like and I think the design
is attractive to the modern young audience of technology products.
My questionnaire showed me almost exactly what I was expecting to see.
The people who answered the questions generally had the same views as me
and showed an interest in the products and areas which I also have an interest in.
My environmental snapshots were taken in potential areas which I may place my
speaker design and design it for. These included the living room and a bedroom. I
would design my speaker system to be placed nearby the television in the living
room or on the bedside table in the bedroom. After looking at various options which
are available for me, I have decided to design my speaker product to be placed on
a bedside table in a bedroom. Therefore I must design the anthropometrics and the
ergonomics around the size and shape of a bedside table or small chest of
drawers.
My market research and product profiling pages have allowed me to gather data
on various products on the market in the acoustics industry. This information has
enabled me to look at interesting, modern and popular designs, and consider
implementing them into my design when I come to draw up and develop my
speaker system.
For my moodboard and customer profiling pages, I gathered images from the
internet to use which I feel portrays my target market the best compared to various
other products and images I looked at which concerned the young adult market.
These images also provided me with popular design aspects which I can use for
my design which should help to attract customers to buy my product once it goes
out onto the shelves in shops and online. There are some products which I looked
at during my research which have got me interested in their design and these are
the products which I will consider in the design of my speaker system.
The person product interaction page shows how an iPhone docking station system
which I own is designed to be interacted with. This interaction between the user
and the product is key to designing an effective and strongly competitive product
for my target market. This research has supplied me with the ideal anthropometric
and ergonomical enhancements which I should implement on my design. This
page has also caused me to look into more detail about what features are present
on a successful iPhone docking station style speaker system and I can use these
features in my design to build a system which I feel could be a strong contender on
the market and will boost KEF’s image and reputation in the market of young
adults and teenagers.
20. Aesthetics
The Aesthetics of my design will be inspired by the concept of
modernism within the world of art and design in the modern era. I am
going to take inspiration from various speaker brands such as Sony or
Panasonic. I am also looking to take design aspects from Apple products to
improve the look of my speaker design and to enable me to form a base to
design my product up from to include features which will provide Apple consumers
with an extension to their product
Cost
After researching my target market and various brands which produce speaker systems, I am
going to design a speaker system which will not be too expensive for the wider consumer market
to purchase. This pricing will enable me to produce a functional and effective design at a low
enough price to generate a wide market for my product. This should be around the price bracket
of £50 to £200 at most
Customer
My research has shown me that my target market is the correct market for me to be designing for
as the majority of my target market have the same views as me on various brands and the
products and pricing they supply to the market they produce for. My target customer shall remain
young people so my research was viable to design my product and my design ideas can suit my
target market more
Environment
The environment I will design my product for will remain the same after taking pictures of my
environment which my speaker system will be placed in and analysing them to define what my
environment is going to be and where my product will apply, preferably being the bedside table
Safety
The safety of my product will always be a priority. As my target audience is young people, the
product I design could be damaged through irresponsibility if the stereotype is to be followed. My
product is going to have to be produced to stand up to the wear and tear it could face when in
use
Size
The size of my product is going to have to match the chosen environment of my speaker system.
This should mean that my product will have to be designed to be placed on top of a fireplace, on
a bedside table or on a cabinet or chest of drawers in a room in the house
Function
Going on my research, I am going to produce a product which can have an mp3 player, USB
device or iPod input meaning my product should be universal for all devices which my target
market may wish to use, including Blackberry and Android phones and tablets
Materials
The materials of my product are going to match my inspiration, which comes from modernism
and the Apple brand. The materials I will use should be similar to the materials these concepts
and companies use, to match their style. These materials will be aluminium brushed to the effect
of the iPhone 4’s stainless steel, and acrylic coated to reflect the plastic parts of the iPhone 4
29. So far I have met my specification in designing a speaker system for the young adult market which includes the functionality of an
iPhone and iPod docking station. I have stuck to the idea of designing my product with a modern approach. The materials I am using and have
developed with allow me to maintain the modern aesthetics of my design. I have also used various techniques to develop my product into a
modern design, including the use of a clear material, being acrylic to match the design of various apple products and accessories for the iPhone
which are on the market today. These features should appeal to my target audience of young adults, and my design should be sticking to my
specification if I am able to continue designing the way I have been so far.
31. The Anthropometrics of a product are one of
the most important areas to research when
developing a new product for the market. The
static anthropometry of the average finger tip
is around 1.5cm. Using this research I have
decided to specify the dimensions of the
interface to fit with the size of a finger tip. This
aspect of design makes the system more
comfortable and easy to use, making the
design more appealing for customers looking
for a practical device to use in their own home
In deciding the dimensions of my design, I have looked
specifically at the iPhone 4 in order to shape the
docking station to match that of the iPhone 4. I have
also looked at functionality with the iPhone 5, by
researching dimensions and incorporating them into the
design. Whether I include functionality for the iPhone 5
or not is still to be decided in the next page of
development, but whether I add iPhone 5 functionality
or not, I have still researched the information I would
need to be able to produce this system around the new
iPhone, building on my knowledge of design
33. I feel that I have been able to meet my specification to a good enough level up to this point in the development of my product. The
features which I have added should be attractive to my target market, such as the Wi-Fi functionalities of the system or the internal memory
feature which allows people to store their music on the speaker system so they do not have to plug a source in to be able to listen to their
music. These features add to the pull of my product and as I enter the final stage of development, I will be making sure to include the new
features and display the research I have done in various options for the design and manufacture of my speaker system.
34. Metal Plates
Steel Aluminium
• Cheaper than aluminium
• More easily accessible
• Matches iPhone 4S
design
• Heavier in general
• Some types stronger
than aluminium
• May look less stylish
• Can be lighter
o Composites /
Alloys
• Can Corrode
• Ductile and malleable
o Depending on
construction
• Can be painted on
• More expensive
• May be more difficult to
buy
• Matches iPhone 5
design
• Stronger in some cases
• Lighter
o Not always
• Modern effect easily
possible
• Does not corrode
• Ductile
• Malleable
• Surface can be easily
changed Plastic Body
Acrylic Polypropylene
• Easily moulded
o Vacuum Former
• Transparent as standard
• Can be coloured
• Fairly cheap and easy to
access
• Stronger than glass
• Easier to maintain
• Stands up to UV and heat
o High resistance
• Half the weight of glass
• Easily cut
• Can be melted into one
piece
• Used to make loud speakers
• Sturdy
• Tough
• Flexible
• Can be made transparent
• Relatively cheap
• Degrades in UV light and
heat
• Can be difficult to mould
• Usually only moulded by:
o Extrusion
o Injection moulding
For the final development of my speaker
system, I am deciding on which type of
speaker cover to use for the speakers. I
have decided to go with a plastic cover as
shown bottom left. This will ensure the
speaker does not get damaged as the
plastic casing is rigid and fairly shock proof.
This should make the system last much
longer
35. This is the end of the development phase of my design. I have been able to add many features which may even be unique and exclusive
to my design as I have not come across other systems with the same features as mine will have. This meets my specification to be a new
and unique product to add to the KEF line of products. My product should be able to generate a market pull in the target market of young adults
with the features it carries to attract younger people who may look for and require these features more than an older person would.
36. The new speaker product from KEF comes with everything an apple user
needs
It features a stylish and sizeable iPod / iPhone dock which you can fit your
device onto even when it is in it’s protective case
The large clock display means that you will be able to read the time with
ease, even from a distance when you may be across the room from the
speaker system and take a quick glance at the time
The USB and MP3 interface allows you to connect any device to the speaker
system and play your music from any source which you may have
The buttons and dials on the systems interface are ergonomically designed
to be easy to use and handle, even making it seamless to change the
track, tune the radio or to turn the alarm off in the morning
The sleek, dark coloured design of the base of the speaker system means
this product fits in to a modern scene and the design it’s self looks modern
and the shape gives it a smooth, edgeless flow of deign
The sharp, thin sheets of aluminium on the design match the style of the
stainless steel on your iPhone 4 or the brushed aluminium on your iPhone
5, making this product an ideal accessory to have along side your apple
device
There is a broad selection of wireless features available with this
system, specifically for use with your iPhone, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,
HSPA+ 3G technology, and even LTE (4G) for when you take the unit
away with you on vacation
This simple, yet useful speaker system is ideal for anyone
who has possession of an apple device, the features
which have been developed through extensive market
research will blow you away with practicality and
useability
38. The digital clock on the face of
the speaker system will display
the time in the 24 hour time
format and will be used as
nothing more than a time display.
The iPhone or iPod which should
be docked in the system will be
used for the date, alarms and a
more detailed clock interface
The iPhone and iPod dock on the front of the speaker
system will be able to charge the device placed in it and the
device placed on it will also act as the main display for the
system which will allow flexibility for the user around how
they use their device as a clock and calendar with or without
the speaker system
The ergonomic stand on the back of the design
gives the unit stability when in use or when standing
freely on the bedside table. The stand features cuts
in the acrylic to allow for heat to escape the inside
of the design, meaning the speaker system will last
longer
The buttons are ergonomically
designed to be the perfect size for
most finger tips. The average finger
tip width is around 1.5 to 2.0cm so I
made the buttons of my design 2cm
in diameter so that the design can
be used by a wide range of people
39. Part No. Material Description Height Width Depth Cost
1 Black Acrylic
Tube
Tube which will be the
base
100mm 100mm 500mm £14.38
2 Black Acrylic
Sheet
Will be vacuum
formed into the stand
500mm 250mm 3mm £4.84
3 Black Acrylic
Sheet
Formed into the parts
of the buttons which
will be pressed
250mm 125mm 3mm £2.42
4 Aluminium
Sheet
This sheet will be used
on the front of the
speaker system
500mm 250mm 0.9mm £4.62
5 Aluminium
Sheet
Used as the rings
around the ends of
the design
500mm 250mm 0.9mm £4.62
Total Cost £30.88
40. 1. The first stage I will take will be cutting an acrylic tube to size. This tube will preferably be black and between 10mm and 20mm in diameter. I will
cut the tube to approximately 30cm in length as this is the correct size which should match my environment
2. I am then going to measure up a sheet of aluminium against the tube at an ideal angle which will look best when fitted to the tube. These
measurements will be around 25cm length and 15cm width to cover the majority of the front face of the tube
3. I will then cut holes in both the tube and aluminium sheet to match the sizes and shapes of the controls I am going to implement into the product. I
will also drill the holes which will be the correct size for pop rivets to be used to secure the aluminium to the tube
4. I will then anneal the aluminium sheet to make it more ductile so I will be able to bend it over the tube easier and more evenly, after this I am going
to sand the aluminium sheet to produce the brushed effect I am looking for before bending it into shape over the tube
5. I am going to use another aluminium sheet to create the discs at the ends of the tube to surround the speakers. This sheet will be cut into two
circles to the size of the tube diameter and a hole will be cut in the middle of the circles to produce two rings
6. I will cut two strips from aluminium sheet for the outside of the rings, these will be annealed so that they can be bent around the rings and will then
have their ends welded to product another two rings to place over the rings made in the previous step. These rings will then be glued to the
previous rings as this will produce a neat effect which will hold the rings together securely
7. The speakers will be mounted to the inside of the aluminium rings before the rings are then secured over the ends of the tube. This mounting will
most likely be done by gluing screw heads to the inside of the rings and then lining the speaker mount holes up with the screws before using nuts to
secure the speakers down over the screws. Both of the rings will be sanded like the aluminium sheet to produce the same brushed effect
8. I will then create the mould for the stand which will be attached to the back of the tube. This will be made using MDF wood and the stand will be
moulded using black acrylic in a vacuum former. The stand will then be cut from the acrylic sheet used in the vacuum forming process and then
attached to the tube using screws or bolts and nuts to create a firm and strong joint
9. The components will then be glued to the aluminium sheet and the tube from the inside using hot glue. This will create a reversible fix so that I can
remove parts and components can be easily replaced or repaired if they need to be
10. The iPhone dock will be laser cut from a file created using Techsoft 2D design on black acrylic and will be put together using glue to fix the parts
together and the 30 pin plug will be glued to the inside of the dock through the designated hole.
11. The Final step will then be to connect all the components together before placing the aluminium sheet onto the tube and then using pop rivets to
secure it safely, and my product should then be complete
42. Week One
I acquired a clear acrylic tube with a
diameter of 15cm as this was the only
type available to me to use. I cut this
tube to size at 30cm length and filed
down the ends to smooth off the cuts.
I then measured up an aluminium
sheet to be cut against the tube which
will be used as the face plate. These
measurements were 25cm length and
15cm width. I then annealed the
aluminium in order to flex it over the
tube to confirm it was the correct
measurements I wanted, before
flattening it down again to be cut later. I
then used matte black acrylic paint to
coat the tube
Week Two
I cut the aluminium discs to match the
size of the speakers I bought. The
speakers have a 4 inch diameter which
fits nicely into the 15cm diameter of the
tube and onto the 15cm diameter
discs. I created a mounting system
using Techsoft 2D design and a laser
cutter to cut an acrylic sheet two rings
with four holes around them to fit the
screws which will be used to mount the
speakers. I also cut a number of small
‘O’ rings to fill the extra space between
the speaker mount holes and the
aluminium discs. I then secured the
speakers into the mounts
Week Three
Upon coming to the build of the stand
for my product, it was decided that I
could make a better looking, more
effective and easier to manufacture
stand. This comprised of four acrylic
shapes cut to rest beneath the tube
comfortably, and two aluminium rods
with a diameter of 1cm and a length of
25cm which I had sanded down to
produce the brushed effect. The
shaped were slotted onto the rods and
aligned as I wanted them to be, before
using super glue to secure the shapes
in place along the rods in order to
product a strong stand which can
easily support the weight and size of
my product
43. Week Six
In the final week of manufacturing my
product, I lined up the aluminium sheet
against the black acrylic tube base and
connected all of the components
together. I then used pop rivets to
secure the aluminium sheet to the
tube. I then placed the speaker rings
into the ends of the tube and secured
them with super glue to produce a
strong and secure fix for the speakers
to remain in the tube ends. I then used
super glue again to secure the stand
section to the bottom of the tube as
this was a neat option to take up for
the stand. My product is now complete
to a level which leaves room for
improvement, however I feel it is a
positive first prototype
Week Four
This week I cut the holes in the
aluminium sheet to fit the shape and
size of my components. At this stage I
had decided not to make specialised
controls for the product, but instead I
would use the buttons which came with
the system I am going to install into the
product. These holes included the ten
holes around the edge of the sheet for
the pop rivets. I decided to make one
big square hole in the acrylic tube as
this made it easier to align the
components on the aluminium sheet. I
then used hot glue to secure the
components to the aluminium sheet in
the required positions. Next week I will
build the iPhone docking station for the
product
Week Five
I used Techsoft 2D design to cut an
acrylic sheet, using finger joints to
attach the parts at right angles. I also
cut holes in the front section of the
dock for some of the buttons and the
placement of the KEF logo. I then used
liquid solvent to stick the acrylic pieces
together. I then stuck a small piece of
orange vinyl behind the KEF logo to
produce an orange logo. I then glued
the iPhone dock it’s self into the slot
that was cut for it. I then used hot glue
to secure the completed dock segment
to the aluminium sheet. I then bent the
aluminium sheet again to wrap over
the front of the tube
44. Aesthetics
My finished product matches my final specification as I was
able to take inspiration from Apple’s iPhone 4S to build
aspects of the design. The brushed aluminium panels are
designed to look similar or as close to the look of the
aluminium on the iPhone 4S. I could have painted the
aluminium black to match the design of the newer design of
the iPhone 5, however this was not ideal as the dock on the
design was not made to be compatible with the iPhone 5
Cost
The equipment used inside the system cost around £80 and
the materials used in the manufacture of the product cost
around £25 which would price the product at around £150
retail price however this cost could be lowered if a cheaper
system could be used as this price is a little higher than I
had intended
Customer
I feel my product is compatible with my target audience of
young people as it is similar to some other products which
are used by young people and the features of the product
match the needs of young people
Aesthetics
The Aesthetics of my design will be inspired by the concept of modernism within the
world of art and design in the modern era. I am going to take inspiration from various
speaker brands such as Sony or Panasonic. I am also looking to take design aspects
from Apple products to improve the look of my speaker design and to enable me to form
a base to design my product up from to include features which will provide Apple
consumers with an extension to their product
Cost
After researching my target market and various brands which produce speaker
systems, I am going to design a speaker system which will not be too expensive for the
wider consumer market to purchase. This pricing will enable me to produce a functional
and effective design at a low enough price to generate a wide market for my product
Customer
My research has shown me that my target market is the correct market for me to be
designing for as the majority of my target market have the same views as me on various
brands and the products and pricing they supply to the market they produce for. My
target customer shall remain young people so my research was viable to design my
product and my design ideas can suit my target market more
45. Environment & Size
The size of my finished product is quite large and so may be too big for
some side tables, this means the product I have designed would be placed
in slightly different environments around the house
Safety
I have smoothed the edges of the aluminium as mush as I could which has
made my product safer to use for any customer but it is not as strong and
sturdy as I intended
Function
My product features an MP3 input and an iPhone dock but no USB input
as the circuit boards I used were not compatible with USB
Materials
I used Acrylic to give my product a modern look and the aluminium
matches the apple brand as I said I wanted to do in my final specification
Environment
The environment I will design my product for will remain the same after taking
pictures of my environment which my speaker system will be placed in and
analysing them to define what my environment is going to be and where my
product will apply
Safety
The safety of my product will always be a priority. As my target audience is
young people, the product I design could be damaged through irresponsibility
if the stereotype is to be followed. My product is going to have to be produced
to stand up to the wear and tear it could face when in use
Size
The size of my product is going to have to match the chosen environment of
my speaker system. This should mean that my product will have to be
designed to be placed on top of a fireplace, on a bedside table or on a cabinet
or chest of drawers in a room in the house
Function
Going on my research, I am going to produce a product which can have an
mp3 player, USB device or iPod input meaning my product should be
universal
Materials
The materials of my product are going to match my inspiration, which comes
from modernism and the Apple brand. The materials I will use should be
similar to the materials these concepts and companies use, to match their
style
46. KEF Analysis
‘Your design has some very nicely
manufactured features, I especially like
the contrast of the silver on black and
the design method of the iPhone
docking port. With the use of high
quality components and speakers, this
product could potentially have a place
on the market’
Modifications for Mass Market
Before going into full production the product I have designed should have
the aluminium strips curving around the ends of the tube before the
product goes into mass market as the strips will provide the aesthetical
improvements the user asked for before and after my product was
prototyped
A feature which could enlarge the area of the market looking to purchase
the product would be an adapter from the 30 pin iPhone dock to the new 8
pin lightning dock. This adapter would be shipped with the product and
could be easily placed on the dock and removed when the user requires
it. The price of an adapter can be as low as just £1 so it would not need to
affect the price of the product
The speakers built into the system will need to be upgraded with KEF
technology to generate the high quality sound a user should expect from a
KEF product. These speakers will most likely push up the price how ever
which could narrow down the market of the product, this may need to be
done to produce a system which KEF will be able to sell as one of it’s own
products
The button interface on the product may need to be labelled clearly as the
user will not know which buttons do a particular function unless they read
the instructions which will be shipped with the product. Labelling the
buttons will make the product more user friendly and so better for the
mass market
The paint work on the product is an area which could be improved before
the design goes onto the mass market. The paint could be covered in a
lacquer to help protect it and improve the visual qualities of the product
where as the product is now the paint can be scratched easily and also
shows dirt so it would need more maintenance to keep in good condition
User Feedback and Modification
One of the features I questioned a potential user about whilst my product
was in the development stage was the stand at the back of the design.
The stand was originally going to be vacuum formed and when presented
with an image of the stand, the user said they thought it could be made
with a more detailed design as it was very similar to designs they had
seen before on iPhone docks, so I redesigned the stand while I was
manufacturing the product
One feature which the user liked about my design was the use of
aluminium strips bent around the ends of the tube with the speakers. With
the time I had to manufacture my speaker system, I would have been
unable to work the aluminium around the tube and fix it in place. After I
had finished the product, the same user said they would have liked to see
me include the aluminium strips around the tube to add to the aesthetic
appeal. This would need to be added to the product before it is put into
production for the mass market
When I asked my user during the development stage whether they
preferred the idea of the product featuring a detailed display on the front
or if the iPhone’s screen, they decided they would find it more practical
and beneficial for the product if I left the display as a basic clock face
whilst using the iPhone as the detailed display for date and time and
other features such as the radio frequency. Whilst building my product, I
found a clock system where the clock face was detailed as it shows the
date, and time as well as other features in the clock it’s self. This went
against the comments of the user how ever they said that the clock face I
used matched the original design and it helped to make the product more
useful and also aesthetically pleasing
47. A feature which I had looked at in the development stage of
the design of my product was the use of Wi-Fi technology in
the product. This technology would have been used to
make the speaker product ‘Air-Play’ compatible so it would
be fully compatible with all iOS devices connected to the
same Wi-Fi network. The reason for me not implementing
this is I do not have the knowledge to install such an
advanced system into a product and the time I had to
complete the design and manufacture my product I most
likely would have not had the time available to install the
technology
An important feature which I was not able to implement
into my design due to the nature of the circuit boards I
used was Bluetooth. I had questioned the potential use of
Bluetooth in my product in the early stages of design
however by the time I had reached development stage of
the product I had decided it would not be easy enough to
install a Bluetooth system into the design. This means it
would not have been viable to install one as it may have
taken too long or it may have not even been possible
The use of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in my
speaker system would have made the
product more universal for any other
product to stream music and other audio
files through the speaker system. This
would have matched the needs of more
users looking for a speaker system on the
market and so would have generated more
market pull using new and innovative
technology. My speaker system could have
helped to push Air-Play technology onto the
wider market and could have made young
people more aware of Air Play and it’s
benefits for the technology in their house.
These features would have also helped my
product sell
The prototype of my product
which I developed used
speakers which I had bought
from a high street electrical
supplier and so they were not as
good as a pair of official KEF
speakers would have been had I
been able to use KEF speakers
in my product. It would have
been difficult to have obtained
KEF speakers without having to
buy a KEF product and
removing the speakers from
inside it. For this reason it was
only really possible for me to
use cheap high street models in
my product as it was only a
prototype and not the final
product which would be
manufactured for the mass
market so it does not have to
perform as well as the actual
product would. The use of KEF
speakers would produce a high
quality acoustic effect from my
product, adding to it’s market
pull as a high quality product
The use of the new
Apple Lightning input for
the iPhone 5 in my
product would have
helped to push the new
technology. The
Lightning adapter
received some negative
reception from people
who already owned
accessories for their
older iPhone as hey had
to buy new accessories.
This product should help
solve those problems as
it is cheaper than many
other iPhone docks and
so is more accessible for
people who already own
a now outdated docking
station