Speaker DesignDominic Tindle

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.

Context

Brand Decoding

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/BasketThe chassis will always be rigid to avoid deformities occurring during use. A metallic chassis will conduct heat away from the voice coils

SurroundThe 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

Audio Product Decoding

Context

CostSize

FunctionLocal Resources

SafetyEco-Friendly

Weather ResistanceExisting Products

AestheticsKEF’s Range Selling Point

ColoursShapesSizes

MaterialOrganic

UserHigh-EndQuality

AcousticsMaterialFunction

Type of Speaker

EnvironmentOutdoorIndoorOfficeHome

Concert HallType of Speaker

Ergonomics

SafetyUser-FriendlyEase of Use

StabilitySecurity

Wall MountingVoltage / Amps

Edges

FunctionAcoustic Quality

AestheticsSafety

EnvironmentErgonomics

Target Customer

MaterialsAesthetics

High Quality

StrengthFinish

StructureSafety

Durability

SizeSafety

StabilityCost

ErgonomicsPackaging

EnvironmentResources

Task Analysis

Context

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

Brief

Context

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.

Define Target Market

Context

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 systemsEar 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 timeThe 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 presentableCreating a speaker system which is universal would prove to be effective, meaning that fewer speakers will have to work from separate sourcesThe 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

IllogicalMany 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 hearingThe 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 waxMany 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 userSome people use a speaker as a platform to store cups and plates and possibly other items such as ornaments or artefactsMany 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

NeedAll 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 needsVolume 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 volumeSpeakers 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.

KeepIf 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 systemEar 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

Context

LINKS FX

ScrapWired 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. FunctionThe 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 - FactorFor 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 systemThere 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

LINKS FX cont.

Context

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.CustomerThe 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.EnvironmentThe 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.SafetySafety 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.SizeThe 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.FunctionThe 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 systemMaterialsThe 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.

Initial Specification

Context

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 productMoodboard: 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.

Research Plan

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The questions I used to formulate a questionnaire should supply mewith the data I could use to forma basis for the research which Iwill be carrying out on products on the market and my target market. These results have shown methat the majority of people who answered my questionnaire seemed to not recognise theKEF 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.

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QuestionnaireWhich of these speaker manufacturing

brands appeals to you most?

PanasonicSonyBoseOther

Have you heard of the brand KEF?

YesNoMaybe

What do you think of KEF's product pricing?

ExpensiveReasonableCheap

What kind of device would you use to listen to music?

DVD/CD PlayerGames ConsoleMP3 Player

Are you interested in the range of products Apple has to offer?

Yes

No

Some

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. Res

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First Hand Existing Design Analysis

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.

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Environmental Snapshot

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 tohave 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, theyshould 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.

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Person Product Interaction

Market Research

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. Res

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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.

Product ProfilingExpensive

Cheap

Retro Modern

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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.

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Customer Profiling

Moodboard

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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

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.

Research Summary

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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 productCostAfter 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 mostCustomerMy 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 moreEnvironmentThe 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 tableSafetyThe 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 useSizeThe 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 houseFunctionGoing 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 tabletsMaterialsThe 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

Further Specification

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Initial Ideas

Development

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.

Specification Checkpoint

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1.5c

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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

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.

Specification Checkpoint

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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 Extrusiono 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

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.

Specification Checkpoint

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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 featureswhich have been developed through extensive marketresearch will blow you away with practicality and useability

Final Design

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Final Design

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Final Design

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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

Cutting List

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

stand500mm 250mm 3mm £4.84

3 Black Acrylic Sheet

Formed into the parts of the buttons

which will be pressed250mm 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 design500mm 250mm 0.9mm £4.62

Total Cost

£30.88

Plan of Manufacture1. 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

Final Product

Manufacture Diary

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Week OneI 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 TwoI 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 ThreeUpon 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

Week SixIn 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

Manufacture Diary

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Week FourThis 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 FiveI 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

AestheticsMy 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 5CostThe 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 intendedCustomerI 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

AestheticsThe 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 productCostAfter 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 productCustomerMy 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

Testing Against Specification

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Environment & SizeThe 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 houseSafetyI 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 intendedFunctionMy product features an MP3 input and an iPhone dock but no USB input as the circuit boards I used were not compatible with USBMaterialsI 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

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Testing Against Specification

EnvironmentThe 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 applySafetyThe 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 useSizeThe 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 houseFunctionGoing 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 universalMaterialsThe 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

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 MarketBefore 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 prototypedA 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 productThe 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 productsThe 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 marketThe 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

Testing Strategies

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User Feedback and ModificationOne 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 productOne 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 marketWhen 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

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

Improving The Final Product

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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