Bored Buds
Earbuds and speaker controls
We had been exploring earbuds if designed by Dieter Rams. Everyone knows less is more, but what we wanted from Ram's teachings was to give earbuds a function when they weren't in your ears. "What if the earbuds were buttons for a speaker when they aren't in your ear?" This question sparked and shaped the final design choices for this project.
Featured
Client
Self Project
Year
2022
Disciplines
Trend Research
Competitor Analysis
Concept Generation
Industrial Design
CMF (Colour, Material, Finish)
Material Research
UX Design
Detailed CAD Modelling
Visualisation
The Buds
We wanted an intuitive design with gestures sensitive controls. Pill-shaped for internal ear comfort and made from titanium, utilising high strength, weightless and 100% recyclable.
The Case
The protective case is a display piece for the buds mimicking buttons on show until wanted. With durable/water-resistant materials and magnetic connections, we removed the need for a lid and just made the buds sit snug below the surface.
The Speaker
What if the earbuds were actually buttons?
This question sparked and shaped the final design choices for this project. We developed a speaker that utilises the earbuds when you aren't on the go whilst still allowing you to enjoy the comforts of sound when you work or relax without getting earbud fatigue. You can interact with the speaker using the earbud's gesture-sensitive controls, making the earbuds still active when not directly in use.
Pinch the buds out to transfer the sound back to them.
