Speaker Project

By James Grimsdale

KEF is a company with the primary objective of creating high end, high quality products with vast amounts of functionality and aesthetical appeal. The Brand has also combined innovative design and technologies together to solely improve on the performance of its products. The company has received many awards for its audio systems especially from their blade loudspeaker which has been awarded product of the year in 2012 by electric house as well as various best buy and highly recommended awards.

‘The company was founded in 1961 by Raymond Cooke OBE (1925–1995) and was initially headquartered in a Nissen Hut on the premises of Kent Engineering & Foundry (from where the name KEF is derived) – a metal-working company on the banks of the River Medway, near Maidstone in Kent. Cooke, an ex-BBC Electrical Engineer, was keen to experiment with new materials and technologies in order to create products with superior acoustic quality that could reproduce recordings as natural as the original performance. From the very beginning, the pioneering inventiveness of KEF loudspeakers was undeniable and now for several decades, audiophiles around the world have revered KEF for its innovative, high-performance loudspeakers.’

The Company

KEF focuses primarily on the quality of its products. Its products show innovation and include the latest technologies to distinguish themselves from other companies. I will hope to use these technologies in my audio product. KEF aims to make their products simplistic in terms of there function and colour schemes which I would like to incorporate into my design. The product sold by KEF are top of the range with their target markets set to high end purchasers in need of the latest most advance audio equipment. Although the technology in KEF’s products are far above other companies the aesthetics in some of the standard speakers are lacking in terms of the use of innovative shapes e.g. C Series speakers (middle bottom). Although KEF’s simplistic colour schemes looks modern they can look too plain however this has been rectified in KEF’s latest projects such as Blade.

Through research of the company I have gained knowledge of KEF’s reputation and of what KEF’s aims are. This will help me to design a product that is in keeping with the quality of products currently sold by KEF.

Products: KEF offer a range of Hi-fi speakers, Home theatre speakers and wireless systems. KEF focuses on creating the highest quality of products. There products are intended to be innovative and new. There products are researched thoroughly and changes are made to optimise performance. New technologies such as ACE materials, low profile drivers and Uni-Q have been put into there products.

Target Audience/ pricing: KEF has a very specific target audience. The products on sale are top of the range meaning that the price range is much higher than most standard speakers. This would discourage people with less money, but on the other hand attract people with more money looking for the latest in audio performance. Lowest prices for speakers are around £150 which is reasonable as they quote ‘this performance is normally associated with speakers of a much higher price’. Top range speakers range from £1000 to £1,500. Their flagship Hi-fi speakers greatly exceed these prices.

Aesthetics and Materials: KEF uses very few materials in its products. The majority are either metal or plastic giving a simplistic look to the products. Silver and Black are common colours used across the whole range of KEF’s products creating a modernistic aesthetic helping to show off the quality of the products on offer however other colours are available to suit personal tastes. The KEF logo can be seen on all of its products helping with advertisement. High quality materials have been used in KEF’s product for optimised aesthetics and durability. For example Glass reinforced composite has been used in their blade speaker to give extra rigidity and strength as well as making the product more lightweight. Metals in some KEF products use similar manufacturing procedure to vacuum forming allowing the products to be mass produced lowering cost, time and improving aesthetics.

This page has helped to broaden my understanding of KEF’s products and what the aims of the company are. The approach to design will be heavily influenced by KEF and therefore my understanding of the company is vital. This will help me to make a product that is suited to KEF’s style.

KEF Brand Decoding

Technology: KEF has developed new technology which is improving both the quality and functionality of their product making their products unique.

In their flagship Hi-fi speaker blade they have included two set of oppositely facing speakers. A vented coupler system has been included within the speakers to reduce the build up of air pressure behind the diaphragm which can damage the speakers and the sound quality. Also a decupling system has been integrated into the speaker to reduce the distortion from the speakers interfering with the diaphragm giving a deeper more dynamic base tone. The drivers within the speakers create vibration and if unchecked it causes the cabinet to resonate creating unwanted sound. To solve the problem the blade speaker has its drivers in opposing pairs meaning that the vibrations cancel one another out giving a better sound quality.

This materials is called ACE (Acoustic Compliance Enhancement). The material is a form of charcoal. It is put inside the loudspeaker cabinet. ACE has small holes in it which act like small air sacks taking in air helping the bass driver to ‘breath’ giving improved bass performance.

The Uni-Q point source drive array gives ‘outstanding acoustical clarity and off axis dispersion’. The device helps to spread out the quality of sound so that you do not have to stand directly in front of the speaker to gain optimum sound quality, the sweet spot is wider.

Task Analysis Function: Multiple speakers could be used for increased sound quality. The portability of the speakers also needs to be taken into account. The speaker could have iPod/ smart phone docking capabilities which is becoming ever more popular allowing for more ergonomic control (touch screen on smart phones). Another important focus is what type of speaker it will be e.g. docking station, headphone, Wi-Fi or surround sound. Linked also with functionality is what environments the speaker can be put into e.g. outdoors or inside.

Energy: The speaker can be powered is many different ways these include: Solar energy, batteries, mains power and manual power.

Materials: The materials that can be used need to have good aesthetics. The materials must also be in keeping with current KEF products e.g. aluminium and plastics. The materials should be of high quality as the price range of KEF’s products are high. The materials should have strength to make the products structure more durable. Also finishes can be added to the material to improve aesthetics and longevity. The materials could be found from far afield for more unusual material or sourced locally for a higher quality.

Size and environment: Were will the speaker be used? How big will the speaker be? Will the audio product be in the form of headphones or a stereo system? Environment and size are closely linked. For example when designing a bedroom speaker it needs to be of reasonable size to produce enough sound but not too big to take up too much space.

Technology: The speakers could incorporate several KEF technology such as ACE or Uni- Q to optimise the sound quality of the audio product.

Manufacture: The audio product can be made in several mays. The processes are dependant on the materials being used for example when using metals a forging method will be used however forming will be used for plastics. Mass production, batch production and one off production are all manufacturing method that need it be taken into consideration however KEF often stays with batch production.

Through task analysis I have opened up all of the possibilities that I could use within my design giving me a wider variety of options.

Audio product decoding

To produce a fully functional speaker various components are needed to produce sound. Sound is produced when electrical energy within the circuits of the speaker are converted into sound energy. Speakers contain electromagnets. These magnets interacts with each other and cause a sound to be produced.

Within a speaker there is both a permanent and a mobile magnet. The permanent magnet is secured firmly. As an electric current is passed through the coil of the electromagnet its magnetic field is rapidly changed causing it to oscillate between repelling and attracting the permanent magnet. This causes the coil to vibrate back and forth. The coil is attached to the diaphragm and as it vibrates sound is generated.

1.Cone 2.Electromagnet (coil) 3. Permanent magnet

1 2 3

The pitch of the sound produced is dependent on it frequency were as the volume of the sound is effected by the waves amplitude. Some speakers are specifically developed with a certain cone size to produce a especially deep or high sound. The bigger the cone the lower the frequency allowing more rich bass capability from the speaker.

Through audio product decoding I have found out about the components within a speaker and how they work. This will help me during the manufacture and development of my product.

Brief I am going to make a speaker that has both organic aesthetics and a high quality of sound. The speaker will have a organic approach and will use interesting colours and shapes to make my speaker both innovative and eye-catching to KEF’s high end buyers. The speaker will be designed for inside use and will be a small multiple cone speaker. The speaker will include several speakers with a similar vibration technology as KEF’s blade speaker. The target audience will be high end purchasers interested in spending more money for a high quality product. The age group of my product will be broad and appeal to all ages. The speaker will be a small compact but powerful unit, similar to KEF’s LS50 and will incorporate new technologies optimising its performance.

From this page I have gained a greater understanding of what the objectives of my speaker are and what I will do to with it to achieve them.

Initial Specification

When considering that my audio product is being designed for KEF many factors must be taken into consideration to ensure that my product fits in with their brand. Suitable aesthetics, pricing, target audience and technology are key to making my products a suitable KEF audio product.

Aesthetics/ materials: • Must be both organic and natural. • The aesthetics must keep in with products currently

being produced by KEF. • Top of the range materials should be used to show the

quality of the product as well as improving its functionality.

Function: • The sound systems must be in keeping with the

quality of the products currently available from KEF and the product must have new technologies.

• The product must include innovative features and technologies to improve on the functionality of the product which in turn will help in making the product unique in a highly competitive market.

• The speakers will be powered using batteries for extra portability and will have iPod docking capabilities.

• The speakers will be primarily used for music. Due to this I will be using several speakers in my design each of high quality to provide the best possible sound quality for any genre of music.

Safety: • Needs to be taken into consideration to ensure that

all electrical components are safe to the user and its environment.

Environment: • The speaker will be designed for inside use. • The speaker will be of sensible size so that it

does not look odd or take up too much space.

Cost: • The audio product I will create must fit in with

the price range of current KEF product. Using state of the art technology and materials I hope to create a product around the £100 mark for high quality at a reasonable price.

From my initial specification I have listed the things that I would like to include within my design, this has helped me to focus on the key aspects of my design and on what I intend to achieve.

Target Market

My target market will be influenced by KEF. KEF speakers offer the highest quality of sound there is. New technological advancements made by KEF have allowed there product to far exceed others. However to install these technologies will come at a price. KEF’s target audience is not age specific however there product are high-end, expensive speakers. This would deter a younger audience who would typically have less money to spend, however the quality of sound and advanced technology draws in customers with more money who are willing to pay for the best in innovative and modern sound systems. My target market will be people aged 20+ which I feel is the optimum age group in which to attract people who can afford to by a high quality speaker.

Through analysing my target market I have understood KEF’s target market in greater detail which will prove vital as I will be designing a speaker for KEF which will have a heavy influence on my design. I have chosen to use the same target market as KEF, the high end market.

LINKSFX Logical: Audio products can have various logical uses. The primary objective of a audio product is the sound it creates. These audio products can be in the form of speakers, surround sound, TV speakers, amplifiers for musical instruments, iPod docks and much more. Illogical: The are many ways in which audio products can be used in illogical ways. One is that with flat faced speakers people use them to stand things on which is an illogical use as it may effect sound quality and the speaker is not designed to hold the strain. Another illogical use is when people have several audio appliances which provide the same function. People often sit and stand on instrumental amplifiers which can damage the amp. The environment in which the audio product is put into is vital. Often people put there speakers on the ground which is illogical as carpets take most of the sound and the sound is not directed at the hearer. Despite the primary function of a audio product being for its sound, people often buy the product just based on its aesthetics. Wires are also illogical as they take up space, do not look aesthetically pleasing and can be unsafe. Some people choose to have/ design very large speakers which may have good functionality however the space they take up is unpractical. Need: The audio product must be able to produce sound. The audio product must also have a power source that is sustainable as well as being safe to use in normal use. Keep: Energy supplied through mains electricity (wires). New technologies will be incorporated into my design as well as innovative, aesthetically pleasing shapes. The speaker will be a suspended speaker. The speaker will incorporate several speakers. Scrap: The standard cuboid shape of many audio products currently on sale. Visible cables will be covered to improve aesthetics and to avoid a tripping hazard. Also I would like to use a greater variety of colour and scrap the standard dull colours used on many current products. From vs. Function: I will try to keep my product as balanced as possible. A similar technique has been adopted by KEF as they have made their product both functional and organic. I feel that both function and form are equally important when designing a product , especially for KEF who are renowned for both aspects. X-factor: My audio product will be different from other audio products as it will use unusual shapes with unusual materials choices. The speaker will include the latest in KEF technology which will make it a unique, interesting and investable product.

3 weeks

4 weeks

11 weeks

5 weeks

20 weeks

Questionnaire:

In this section I will create a questionnaire which will be put out to 20 people involved with the audio product market. Their thoughts about audio products will give me primary information, of which will help me to make decisions on what materials I should use, features I should include as well as the cost and Aesthetics of my design. I will show the results through charts and statistics making the information easy to read and understand.

Primary and secondary research plan

ACESSFM of secondary product

Here I will evaluate some audio products that is currently in the market. Using ACCESS FM I will be able to determine the things I would like to keep or scrap in my audio product. It will also help me consider other things such as price, safety and functionality.

Customer Profiling/ Mood board:

This section is aimed to help me understand my target market better to create a product that is most suited to them. In this section I will gain information about audio products users. This information includes their age, interests, culture as well as everyday activities. I will represent this through graphs and other media. I will also do a mood board represented in a collage of images which will give me an idea of what my audience needs from my audio product. Customer profiling and the mood board will be critical to understanding my target market in greater detail and with this understanding my product is much more likely to be a success.

Disassembling of product : In this section I will take apart an audio product to gain first hand experience on how a speaker is put together. This will help me when constructing the internal structure of my speaker.

Cultural understanding: In this section I will look at a range of different cultures and observe how the use and feel about audio products. This will help me to find out more about what people want in a speaker.

Environmental snapshot: I will take a photo of a speaker that is in use and discuss what things are found around it and how they relate to the product. I will also observe to see how the product interacts with the environment it is put in.

Product interaction: To find out how people interact with audio products I will observe how people use audio products whether they be a speaker, docking station, TV or surround sound. I will also illustrate past experiences I have had with audio products. This section will help me to create a product which is best suited to the customer using the speaker.

Existing design analysis: In this section I will be looking at some products currently on the market. I will pick designs which a relevant to my brief. This secondary data will help me to determine the current audio market and help me to make my speaker unique with better features than the speakers currently available in the competitive audio market.

Mood Board

From this mood board I can see that I want to have an organic approach to my design. I want my speaker to be unique and multifunctional like some of the speakers I have shown. In the mood board I have also shown some pictures of things relating to the design ideas I have which are related to my chosen environment.

My product will be heavily influenced by the target audience I am aiming at. Understanding my customer is vital, and will help me make important decisions around issues such as price, aesthetics, and function. Customers interested in buying my product will be interested in buying the highest quality speaker possible and will be willing to spend a reasonable amount of money to get it. I will be aiming my product at the high end market. I will use high quality materials and new technologies to optimise performance and give the customer a functional and aesthetically pleasing speaker which represents them. My speaker will be designed to fit into many different environments which are suited to the customer.

Customer Profiling

Questionnaire What style of design do you look for in a speaker? Modernistic, organic, natural or retro Were are the majority of your audio products found? Living room, bedroom, kitchen, Outside or other. Is there anywhere were there is a lack of audio products? How regularly do you use audio products? Daily, weekly, monthly+ What features do you find useful on speakers? How could the functionality of current audio products be improved? How much would you be willing to spend on a speaker? £0-10, £10-30, £30-80, £80+ What do you most commonly look for in a speaker? Aesthetics, Functionality, price or longevity

From the pie chart it is clear that the majority of people have their audio products in either their living room or bedroom. Taking this into consideration I will design a speaker which will be designed for indoor use as the popularity of indoor audio products is much higher than the 5% who liked them outdoors.

From the bar chart I can see that the majority of audio product purchasers fall into the £10-80 bracket. This price range also fit into KEF’s current market and therefore it will be suitable for my audio product to fit into this range.

This chart shows that most people listen to audio products on a daily basis, less for weekly and a even lower for monthly. My product will be designed to be used daily. To make this possible I will make my product have longevity by using high quality materials and reliable electronics.

Questionnaire

From the pie chart it is clear that the most popular style of speaker is organic at 40%. KEF have begun to look at organic design to make there products unique. Their new flagship hi-fi speaker ‘Muon’ has an organic approach to its design which makes it look interesting and innovative. In my design I hope to use an organic approach in twined with some natural features which I feel will work well together.

Through my questionnaire I have gathered some information which has widened my understanding of my customers. I have learnt that the majority of people use their audio products on a daily basis, that the majority of people prefer organic design and that the ideal price range is between £10-80. This feedback will allow me to create a product which ideal for my customer.

Sound eggs are wireless multimedia speakers for the computer or any device having the wireless interface. This design based on image of the tilting doll and simple white eggs. The white case - a shell, orange speaker - an egg yolk. Speakers have no accurate support, however in their bottom part installed cargo which constantly holds them in the vertical or inclined position. The unusual sound effect may be created, if you twist them about the axis as whipping top

Aesthetics: The design has been modified with colours and shapes to look them look like eggs. They use organic shapes which look interesting and simplistic. Function: The speakers operate wirelessly and can turn on an axis to allow easy manoeuvrability of direction. Size: The speakers are of medium size making them easy to fit into many different environments.

Sound Eggs

‘Simple and sleek in their design, a favourite for the concept of external speakers no son “Sound Egg Speaker” envisioned by the

Russian designer Ilshat Garipov’

From existing design analysis I have gained more knowledge on the products currently on market. I have seen what aspects make them unique which will help me in the design stage to create a product which is innovative and interesting.

Existing design analysis

The iBamboo Speaker, made from a single piece of bamboo, amplifies the iPhone's sound completely naturally, without the need for electricity. making the product both functional and environmentally friendly as it uses no electricity. Designed by Anatoliy Omelchenko of Triangle Tree, the speaker is made of a 12 inch long tube of bamboo, one of the fastest growing plants on earth. It is both durable and lightweight, and the natural wood adds a warm tone to music.

Omelchenko is currently developing a prototype for a version made of recycled plastic, called the iBamboo Urban.

iBamboo

‘The idea for the ‘the natural speaker’ derived from the desire to create an absolutely unique, handcrafted speaker for the interior space. Whereas a lot of speakers are constructed to produce a rather fat bass and sharp high tones, we felt the sound was kind of stuck inside the speakers, missing a natural vibe and ambiance. During the development of the ‘the natural speaker’ we discovered the great properties of porcelain as a speaker casing, providing a clear resonance and mellow sound. Amplified inside the ceramic and wood transmission construction, the sound gains a slight echo, creating a natural feeling of resonance, resembling the distinct flair of an acoustic instrument right in front of you. Each set of pieces is individually crafted by hand and each porcelain casing checked for best amplifying performance. If you value a balanced mid-tone sound and a speaker with a ‘feeling’ for your music, you will surely enjoy the ‘the natural speaker’.’

The Natural Speaker

Access FM of Secondary Product

Aesthetics: The speaker has an organic design. It uses unusual shapes to make it look both unusual but natural. The design is meant to illustrate a tree with each speaker being a birds nest. The simplistic colours look modernistic and help to allow the design to blend into many different environments. Cost: The speakers can be bought individually or as a set depending on the needs of the user. The speakers are aimed at the higher end of the market due to their style, functionality and high quality finish. Customer: Due to their high price only people interested in buying a very high quality speaker would be interested in purchasing the speaker. Environment: The speaker can be put into several different environments as I have already said due to its very adaptable colour scheme. As well as this the speakers can be detached from the main body of the speaker and can be hung anywhere around the house making the speaker both portable and innovative. The speaker would blend into any room in the house. Size: The speaker as a set takes up only a small amount of space as the speakers are hung as well as being very small. Each individual speaker is small enough to fit into any living space without causing obstruction. Safety: The speaker is made of a shatterproof which prevent shattering when dropped. The speaker has smooth edges and has no small loose components which could be hazardous to children. Also as the speakers are wireless there is no risk of tripping over wires. An LED is also on the speakers so that they are more visible in the dark.

Function: These speakers are highly functional due to their high portability. Each speaker ‘pod’ can be turned to any direction and can be detached from the main body of the speaker and placed wherever needed due to the ‘claw’. This opens up the possibility of surround sound capabilities. The sound quality is also very good as the speakers sync wirelessly to be in phase with one another. The speakers can be used for several different purposes such as listening to music or watching films. The LED on each individual speaker also helps to make the speakers more visible which is especially useful in dark conditions (at party's and when watching films). Materials: The speakers are made from plastic which has several benefits. These are that it is both strong and lightweight, is an electrical insulator, can be easily manufactured through injection moulding and is relatively cheap.

Cultural Research

Urban Areas- London People Generally in major cities such as London use headphones. They are very portable which is useful as people often use their audio product on the move, have good sound quality and do not produce too much sound which could cause annoyance to others especially on public transport. Also theft is high in the London and many other inner city areas so an expensive audio product would be less illogical. Also due to the amount of infrastructure in cities such as London pubs, clubs and concerts are becoming ever more dependant on audio product for entertainment and music culture is booming.

Rural Areas- Cornwall

Less people in rural areas tend to listen to music on a regular basis therefore the demand for on the move headphones is lesser than in urban areas. Due to an ageing population in Cornwall less people are inclined to purchase high end speakers however more people enjoy listening to the radio in which genres of music can be found which suit their personal tastes.

This page has helped me to gain a greater understanding of the culture of the people using my speaker. This will help me in terms of the function and usability of my product.

Product Interaction

There is a handle incorporated into the amplifier to allow it to be more poratble. This is very useful as the amplifier is heavy and if dropped could suffer serious damage.

The amplifier is primarily for musical instruments and includes several features and dials which are equip for this. The dials control gain, bass, middle, treble, reverb volume, FX and master volume. As well as this the amplifier included tap tempo for echo effects on instruments. The buttons on the left control the tone of noise that the amplifier creates.

The buttons are LED backlit which proves very useful in dark condition. The LED on the tempo control flashes with the beat which gives a both functional and aesthetical element to the amplifier. Also the LED’s go from ‘green’ which gives a clean tone to ‘red’ which goes to overdrive mode which is a very user friendly feature.

The amplifier includes 4 ports. One input for instruments, an mp3 port for mp3 players and iPods, a headphone jack socket and a foot controller port for effects pedals. Due to the mp3 socket the amplifier can also be used to player music or play backing tracks to play music over. When using the speaker for music however the volume dial is very sensitive to slight movements and can start out exceedingly loud which could be damaging to the ears.

The amplifiers dials are very easy to control the more of the effect you want the further you turn them clockwise. The dials turn very smoothly with some force required which is good as you wouldn’t want them to move freely. The dials are also ridges which allows the user to grip them easier for more control. The corners or the amplifier have rubber caps to reduce impacts from collisions which is good for the longevity of the amplifier. The speaker is sturdily held together by bolts and screws.

Product disassembly

This is the Ted Baker speaker I dissembled for my product disassembly. As you can see from the 2 images above the speakers fold outwards into two halves each with a speaker compartment. They are allowed to do so by the hinge shows in the right most photo. The sound is able to spread out by this method and the noise can be changed depending on how far open the speaker is. The speaker can rest open due to the flat edge of the base of the speaker shown in the middle right photo. An inlay has been made to host the cable which connects to an mp3 player or iPod. On the frontal face small holes (probably laser cut) have been cut to allow the sound to pass through.

Here you can see the first stage of the disassembly. The backs of the speaker were held on to the front plates by 3 screws. After unscrewing these the back plates came off leaving the magnet, the diaphragm and the copper wiring on show. This is shown in the central photo. These components were hold on to the frontal face by screws and a resin which was very strong. After removing the screws and resin I was able to look at the front of the speaker shown in the far right photo.

Here you can see the wiring connecting the two speakers together through the hinge as well as the wires connecting to the magnets on each speaker. You can also see the lead of the mp3 jack.

This is the inside of the frontal face with holes drilled to allow the sound to pass through.

This the speaker after both sides have been disassembled with the back plates and screws to the sides.

Here is a picture of the frontal faces of both of the speakers.

Environmental snapshot This is a photo taken of an amp found in my bedroom. As you can see from the photo there are several ways in which the speaker has effected the layout of its surroundings.

Excessive wires are found on floor when the amp is not in use and often become tangled when left for long periods of time. They also take up a lot of space and can get tangled with other cables.

The amplifier is placed on the ground which is not ideal as the carpet absorbs a lot of the sound, plus the sound is not travelling straight at you which minimalizes the sound quality.

Next to the amplifier you can clearly see that the mains supply is being used overused with too many different appliances which is a safety hazard especially when drinks are nearby.

Items being left on top of the amplifier is an illogical use. The speaker may not be designed to carry weight and therefore placing items onto the amplifier may damage it as well as the risk of spilling drinks over the electronics.

Placing the amplifier next to the radiator is also not ideal as it could slowly cause damage to the amplifier or cause it to overheat.

Further specification

Aesthetics/ materials: • Must be both organic in shape using natural colours • The aesthetics must keep in with products currently being produced by KEF. • Top of the range materials should be used to show the quality of the product as well as improving its functionality. • I will use a minimalistic colour scheme using bright colours to make my product different but still in keeping with current

KEF products.

Function: • The sound systems must be in keeping with the quality of the products currently available from KEF and the product

must have new technologies. • The product must include innovative features and technologies to improve on the functionality of the product which in

turn will help in making the product unique in a highly competitive market. • The speakers must be powered using batteries for extra portability and will have iPod docking capabilities. • The speakers will be primarily used for music. Due to this I will be using several speakers in my design each of high

quality to provide the best possible sound quality for any genre of music. • The speaker will incorporate acoustical technologies to enhance sound quality. • The speaker must be either wall mounted or hung to reduce space occupancy similar to the secondary product I evaluated.

Safety: • Needs to be taken into consideration to ensure that all electrical components are safe to the user and its environment. • I will try to keep small components to a minimum to reduce the chances of chocking hazards with young children. • The materials I will use will not be shatterproof and will be easily machined to remove sharp edges.

Environment: • The speaker will be designed for inside use. • The speaker will be of sensible size so that it does not look odd or take up too much space. • My design will be diverse and will fit into any inside environment especially bedrooms and living rooms without looking

out of place.

Cost: • The audio product I will create must fit in with the price range of current KEF product. Using state of the art technology and

materials I hope to create a product around the £100 mark for high quality at a reasonable price. • I will price my speaker at a lower price due to my questionnaire result and it will now cost between £20-80.

Research Report In my research I have done a several pieces of primary and secondary research. The primary research which I have carried out has been a questionnaire, a product disassemble, an existing design analysis, Product interaction and an environmental snapshot. Each has provided me with key finding that will help me in the design of my speaker. My secondary research has also helped me greatly. The secondary research I have carried out is a mood board, customer profiling, ACESS FM of secondary product and cultural research.

What I found out and am carrying forward Questionnaire: The questionnaire has helped me to gage a suitable price range between £10-80 for my product as well as a suitable environment to put the speaker in and the best style to go for which from my result is organic. Product disassembly: This has helped me to find out exactly what procedures have been put in place to make sure the speaker is secure and safe for use and has taught me how a speaker is held together. Product interaction: Through looking at a product first hand and witnessing its features and how it feels I now know what makes a audio product user friendly which will help me to incorporate similar features into my design. Existing design analysis: This section has helped me to decide what features I should include within my design and how they will effect the speakers usability. I have decided to incorporate a form of acoustical amplifier within my design to enhance sound quality. Environmental snapshot: Through looking at the environment around the speaker it has helped me to see what logical and illogical uses I use my speaker for. With this in mind I will design a speaker which enhances the logical features and tries to deter those illogical uses which may damage the speaker. Mood board , Customer profiling and cultural research: These secondary research techniques have helped me create an image of the audience I am aiming my product at which will help me dramatically when designing my speaker. I now know that my target market is higher class people who use their products on a regular basis who live in urban areas and are willing to pay a decant amount of money for a high quality, durable speaker. ACESS FM of secondary product: Looking at another product across the ACESS FM range has helped me to understand why a speaker is designed I the way it is to meet the needs of all of the aspects. I now have a greater understand of what makes a good speaker and have decided to incorporate the hanging speaker idea into my design.

The back of my design, that will be attached to the wall, will be made of a green transparent plastic. I will use techsoft 2D design to create a template which will be sent to a laser cutter to be cut out. The template will be etched to form the leaf like structure which is intended to add to the organic nature of my design. The back face will have Magnets incorporated, held in place by resin so that the speaker can be mounted onto any wall that has a magnetic dock.

Development

The design that I have chosen to use for my audio product is shown above. The design incorporates a range of materials, shapes and aesthetics which epitomizes an organic, natural design. The design is wall mountable and has been influenced by the shape of a firefly which fits my brief of creating a nature based design.

The housing of the speaker will be located at the base of the design. The base will be made of oak and will incorporate all of the controls including the volume and power switch. I will create the oak base using multiple layers of oak sheet held together using PVA glue. Using a milling machine, the base will be hollowed for the speaker housing.

Aluminium Aluminium is a silvery white metal made of bauxite. When mixed with other elements aluminium alloys can be created with several good properties: It doesn’t corrode- due to passivation(aluminium oxide layer) Useful for if the speaker is in damp conditions (Bathroom/ kitchen) Has a low density making it lightweight. Good for the speakers portability as well as reducing the force put onto the magnets holding the speaker to the wall and to the pop rivets holding the wings in place. It is soft, ductile and malleable Meaning that the wings can be easily cold forged into shape around an MDF mould. It is durable Meaning the speaker will have longevity and the constant pivot of the wings will not damage the wings. Easily joined Aluminium can be joined using all the normal methods available such as welding, soldering, adhesive bonding and riveting. Non-toxic Aluminium is not poisonous and is therefore highly suitable for the preparation and storage of food.

Here is an illustration of how the base of my design will be made up of several layers of MDF stuck together using PVA. I will then clamp the template into position while it dries. I will use sandpaper to smooth and round the edges once the glue has set. Then using an electric drill I will cut out the grooves in which the metal threads for the wings can be put into.

An illustration of how the wing template will be made is shown to the left. I will sand the shape down until smooth to create an organic/ ergonomic shape then cold forge the aluminium around it.

The Dock

The speaker I will be using in my design is a 4” shielded bass/mid woofers which will provide me with a very good sound quality, without taking up too much space, looking out of place or using up too much energy.

LED’s The base of my design will incorporate LED’s. These will help with both the aesthetics and usability of my design. Aesthetically it will help to make the design more similar to a fire fly as well as this the light will make the speaker much more usable in low light conditions.

To make my speaker capable to play music I have decided to include a docking station in my design. You can connect any device that has a 3.5mm audio jack to the speaker. This includes the Apple iPhone / iPad / iPod, any other MP3 Player.

Here I have redeveloped the aesthetics of my design to improve on both its functionality and usability. The design now looks more organic and really focuses on the bug shape shown on the previous page. The design will now incorporate adjustable aluminium wings. The speaker will be incorporated into the wooden base of the design facing upwards. The curvature of the back and wings will help to funnel the sound up. Adjusting the wings will change the sounds tone and direction.

The front control panel on the base will be made of plastic It will be moulded around the oak base to insure a it fits together well. The plastic panel will be held on by self tapping screws ensuring a strong hold. This will ensure that the components are both accessible and hidden.

The volume buttons will be made of a transparent plastic and will be cut out using a laser cutter. The buttons will have a 2cm diameter to give ergonomics to the button and will have etched positive and negative signs to enhance usability.

The back of the design will be made in a similar way to the wings but will have a flat centre segment which will curve round at the edges. This will allow the speaker to be easily mounted onto a wall. The back will be made of a transparent acrylic. The shape will be created using a vacuum former and a MDF mould. The leaf inlays will be cut using a techsoft 2d design template which will be sent to a laser cutter.

The design I have created is highly functional. So far in my development I have shown how LEDs could be incorporated into my design for use in the dark which also improves on the aesthetics and the idea of a firefly. I have also shown were the dock of my speaker will be situated. The speaker is also portable and can be mounted anywhere in the house using a set of magnets which is what I said it needed from my initial specification. The wings also help to add to the acoustics of my design as they are adjustable to allow different measures of sound to escape.

The materials I will be using in my design include aluminium for the wings, transparent acrylic for the back and an oak base to house the speakers. These materials replicate the high quality that KEF uses in its products. I have also altered the aesthesis of the design to make it look more organic and bug like. The design uses simple organic colours such as green as well as natural materials such as oak.

The speaker is designed for inside use and can be placed around the house using magnets. The speaker is wall mounted and takes up little living space which is the main motivation in it being wall mounted. The speaker will not look out of place due to its natural, subtle, transparent colours which will help to incorporate the speaker into its surroundings.

The safety of my design has been considered throughout my development and there are now no safety issues. There are no small components which can be swallowed nor any sharp edges which could be hazardous to the user especially at head height.

Specification checkpoint

The wings will be made from aluminium. To create them I will make an MDF mould. I will do this using several layers of MDF sheet, cut them to size using a hegner saw and then glue them together using PVA. I will form the aluminium sheet, which will be cut to size using a guillotine, over the mould by cold forging. I will then repeat the process to make a secondary identical wing. The wings are bolted into place and are adjusted by loosening.

The back of the design will be made in a similar way to the wings but will have a flat centre segment which will curve round at the edges. This will allow the speaker to be easily mounted onto a wall. The back will be made of a transparent acrylic. The shape will be created using a vacuum former and a MDF mould. The leaf inlays will be cut using a techsoft 2d design template which will be sent to a laser cutter.

Originally the wings of my design were made to rotate outwards. They will now be opened through the use of pop rivets. Which will be attached to both the back plate and the wing of my design to allow it to pivot. The brackets will be made of aluminium and will be cut to size using a coping saw.

The Speaker Housing Oak

Attractive aesthetics: The organic nature of this material helps to further amerce my design into a naturalistic approach. The grain of the design is subtle and could fit into any household environment

Finishes well: Allowing it to be easily sanded to give the base an ergonomic shape also varnish can be applied to protect the oak from warping due to moisture as it is porous.

Good hardness and resilience: This will ensure that the electronics of the speaker are well guarded as well as giving structure to the design.

Anthropometrics and Ergonomics

On this page I will consider how my design could be developed to be more ergonomic and anthropometric. The volume buttons of my design will have a 2cm diameter. I have chosen to develop this to give make the buttons more user friendly through the use of anthropometrics. I have also made adjustments to the width of the speaker making it proportional to hand, so that it can be easily picked up and placed around the house. The base will be curved and will have a plastic panel on the front making it more portable and easier to grip. The speaker will be mounted two meters above floor level to ensure maximum comfort and ease of use when altering controls such as volume.

Measurements

20cm

20cm

28cm

10cm

The front plate and rim of my design will be made out of mirrored plastic. Both will be cut on a laser cutter and will be held on by self tapping screws. An indent will be made in the oak and then the screws will be ‘threaded’ into the wood using a Philips screwdriver.

The speaker will fit into the oak housing and will be held in place by the plastic rim.

Anthropometrics and Ergonomics

On this page I will consider how my design could be developed to be more ergonomic and anthropometric. The volume buttons of my design will have a 2cm diameter. I have chosen to develop this to give make the buttons more user friendly through the use of anthropometrics. I have also made adjustments to the width of the speaker making it proportional to hand, so that it can be easily picked up and placed around the house. The base will be curved and will have a plastic panel on the front making it more portable and easier to grip. The speaker will be mounted two meters above floor level to ensure maximum comfort and ease of use when altering controls such as volume.

Front Plate

Power source

VS

• Batteries make the speaker more portable which is ideal for my design as its environment will change.

• They can be charged if using rechargeable batteries. Therefore making them more eco friendly than standard batteries.

• They are very easy to replace • Very safe around younger children as electric wires

and plug sockets are not needed.

• Doesn’t provide as much power as mains does making the speaker incapable of producing constant/ high quality sound at high volume levels.

• Have to be replaced regularly if speaker is used regularly. Even rechargeable batteries deteriorate after being recharged for a certain number of times.

• Batteries bring added weight to the speaker making it less ergonomic when moving it. Also the magnets have more weight on them.

• Some batteries can be dangerous and lead to fire, explosion and chemical pollution.

• A more powerful, consistent energy source can be provided to the speaker for improved performance allowing the speaker to reach higher volumes than batteries can.

• Power source doesn’t need to be replaced unlike batteries.

• Limited portability. Power source would need to be changed when moving the speaker around the house.

• Wires can be a tripping hazard and may not be long enough to reach the wall mounted speaker.

• Wires look unattractive and do not fit into an organic aesthetic.

• Plug sockets can be dangerous around children.

Specification checkpoint

‘The speakers must be powered using batteries for extra portability and will have iPod docking capabilities.’ My design will be run of batteries instead of mains power making it very portable which is ideal for moving the speaker from room to room. My design also incorporates an iPod dock making it much more functional and compatible with various devices..

‘The speaker will be of sensible size so that it does not look odd or take up too much space.’ The sizes I have chosen for my design follow this criteria. They are adequate to make my design both ergonomic and space occupant. The shapes and materials I have chosen help to make the speaker blend into most environments.

‘The speakers will be primarily used for music. Due to this I will be using several speakers in my design each of high quality to provide the best possible sound quality for any genre of music.’ The 4” shielded bass/mid woofer speaker I will be using in my design satisfies this. It can produce very high quality sound making it ideal for music.

‘

‘The speaker will incorporate acoustical technologies to enhance sound quality.’ I have addressed this by redeveloping the aluminium wings on my design. The wings will now open outwards using pop rivets. The wings will now direct the sound both upwards and forwards for better sound direction to make the sound more direct therefore improving the acoustics of my design. It is also a stronger joint and will be less likely to be damaged

Pro desktop components The buttons and front panel will both be cut and etched on a laser cutter. The Red stands for a clean cut and the Blue lines cause etches on the surface of the plastic.

Here is a 2D template of the front panel of my design. I have also included the button templates which will be made of several layers of plastic with one etched circle on top.

Magnets The plastic back plate of my speaker will incorporate 3 magnets which will allow my speaker to be mounted to a wall. Inserts for the magnets will be drilled 0.5cm and the magnets will be glued in place with araldite.

The plastic back plate will be held on by 10 self tapping screws. The holes will be cut by a laser cutter and indents will be will be drilled into the wooden base so that it will be easier to thread the crews in. The reason for using self tapping screws is that they provided a very strong grip due to the thread they create which is essential as the speaker needs to be strong at this point to hold the speaker firmly onto the wall.

Another feature that I could Include Is a digital clock which would make my product multifunctional. Although it is a nice feature It is not in my design specification and is therefore not too important. To add to this the MP3, iPod, IPhone etc. All have time displays on them anyway making the use of a digital clock pointless.

Digital clock

The Acrylic back plate will be attached to the oak base using an adhesive. I will have a strip of acrylic and will cover one side In adhesive. I will then place this along the joint line to hold the two materials together.

Polypropylene Acrylic

• Easily moulded- good for forming the front panel.

• Comes in various different colours including transparent.

• It is non toxic- making it safe around children.

• Acrylic is an Electrical insulator and can be used for the front panel which is in contact with the electronics of the speaker.

• Reasonably cheap easy to shape (vacuum forming and line bending).

• Can be made transparent. • Has a good resistance to fatigue therefore making it a good

material to use around hinges. • Polypropylene is liable to chain degradation from exposure to

heat and UV radiation such as that present in sunlight. • Good heat resistance. • Waterproof- preventing the electronics getting damaged by

condensation.

‘The speaker must be either wall mounted or hung to reduce space occupancy’

Specification checkpoint

‘Must be both organic in shape using natural colours’

‘I will use a minimalistic colour scheme using bright colours to make my product different but still in keeping with current KEF products.’

‘The aesthetics must keep in with products currently being produced by KEF.’

The product I have created justifies all of these specifications. My design uses a range of high quality materials including oak and aluminium. It uses organic shapes and minimalistic colours while still maintaining the KEF style. The speaker is wall mounted by magnets taking up much less living space.

Aesthetics Function ‘The speaker will incorporate acoustical technologies to enhance sound quality.’

‘The sound systems must be in keeping with the quality of the products currently available from KEF and the product must have new technologies.’

‘The product must include innovative features and technologies to improve on the functionality of the product which in turn will help in making the product unique in a highly competitive market.’

The wings in my design have been put there to enhance sound dynamics. The speaker uses this unique feature to make itself unique and therefore making it sell. The speakers used within my design will be of a very high quality. The materials and manufacturing methods will also ensure that the speaker is of a high quality. I decided against including a digital clock as I felt it was unnecessary to have with a docking station as well.

Environment ‘My design will be diverse and will fit into any inside environment especially bedrooms and living rooms without looking out of place.’

‘The speaker will be designed for inside use.’

‘The speaker will be of sensible size so that it does not look odd or take up too much space.’

My design uses very natural colours which help to blend it into any indoor environment. The speaker is the correct size so that it is anthropometrical while being of a reasonable size. The magnets I have incorporated now allow the speaker to be wall mounted making it take up much less space.

Cost Safety ‘The audio product I will create must fit in with the price range of current KEF product. Using state of the art technology and materials I hope to create a product around the £100 mark for high quality at a reasonable price.’

‘I will price my speaker at a lower price due to my questionnaire result and it will now cost between £20-80.’

When taking into consideration the price of the materials I have chosen and the manufacturing process which will be involved in making my design, I feel that this price bracket would suit my design. The use of oak and aluminium may be expensive but I feel it will be justified in its aesthetics and keep KEF’s reputation of producing high quality products

‘Needs to be taken into consideration to ensure that all electrical components are safe to the user and its environment.’ ‘I will try to keep small components to a minimum to reduce the chances of chocking hazards with young children.’ ‘The materials I will use will not be shatterproof and will be easily machined to remove sharp edges.’

The speaker’s edges will be smoothed, there are no loose components and there are no materials that could shatter.

High quality materials including aluminium and oak.

The design has a laser cut and engraved back plate to improve aesthetics.

Final Design

It has adjustable aluminium wings using pop rivets to enhance functionality and style.

Docking capabilities allowing input from devices such as ipods, iphones and mp3’s.

The back plate of my design will be made of transparent acrylic and will be cut and etched on a laser cutter.

The magnets will be incorporated into the oak base of my design. They will be held on using an adhesive (araldite).

Pop rivets will be used to attach the aluminium wing plates to the acrylic backing. This will allow the wings to pivot and open outwards.

The oak base of my design will be made out of multiple layers of Oak sheet glued together with adhesive. The shape will be sanded using a belt sander and will then be milled using a milling machine to hollow out the base to house the electronic components of the speaker.

The front panel and buttons will be made out of Polypropylene and will be cut using a laser cutter. The front panel will be held in place by 4 self tapping screws.

The acrylic backing of my design will be held in place onto the base by a strip of plastic.

The design will have one 60w 4” speaker incorporated into the base facing upward with the wings channelling the sound

Environmental

snapshot

Cutting List

Part No. Description Materials Length(cm) Width (cm) Quantity Thickness (mm) Price

1 Housing Oak 20 20 6 19mm £13.14

2 Front plate HIPS 17 18 1 3mm £2.20

3 Wings Aluminium 50 25 1 0.7mm £2.72

4 Back plate Transparent acrylic

28 20 1 5mm £7.73

5 Buttons Transparent acrylic

2 2 8 5mm

Total: £25.79

4

2

1

3

5 http://www.maplin.co.uk/51-4-60w-shielded-bass-mid-woofer-44698

58cm

20cm

11cm

28cm 20cm

17 cm

18cm 11.4 cm

Orthographic