Product & Experience Design for Consumer Audio Brand

Product & Experience Design for Consumer Audio Brand

Client
Bang & Olufsen
Role
Product Designer
Industry
Electronics
Year
2021

Bang & Olufsen Innovates A Concept for Socially Distanced Music Sharing to Connect People Amidst Pandemic

Client

Bang & Olufsen (B&O) is a high-end luxury consumer electronics company that designs and manufactures various products. Inspired by COVID, they have an idea to make a product that brings people together while considering their environment and social distancing restrictions. B&O wants the product to allow users to share their music and its audio experience.

Problem

With the assumption that music consumption would increase during the pandemic, Bang & Olufsen aimed to turn a seemingly unfortunate situation into an opportunity to reduce the feeling of isolation caused by the pandemic. In doing so, they hoped to expand their brand and product line.

User & Audience

This product aimed to attract new customers to Bang & Olufsen while enticing existing customers. User personas were created to understand Bang & Olufsen's existing audience so that the product could be tailored to them, with the hope of attracting new like-minded customers.

Scope & Constraints

The project's scope entailed designing and introducing a new product that could be incorporated into the client's product line and mobile app. The product needed to meet functional requirements and be suitable for various environments and social settings, while also considering and adapting to limitations during and after Covid.

Role & Responsibilities

As the only designer on the project, I was responsible for every aspect of the design process. Alongside collaborating with the stakeholders to form the product, my responsibilities included conducting research, iterative ideation, creating wireframes and sketches, and developing prototypes.

Integrating Social Enterprise Thinking to Drive Clever Solution for Bang & Olufsen

Social enterprise thinking involves balancing financial benefits with social goals and prioritizing people's interests. This methodology was employed to develop a solution for Bang & Olufsen, as it is inherently human-focused and the project had a significant social component. Given the substantial requirement for functionality, the human-centered design approach was used as a framework for each step of the design thinking process, effectively completing the project using social enterprise thinking.

Speaker Prototype
Developed Through Sketches and 3D Modeling to Showcase Design and Functionality

A prototype was developed to present the solution to the client. This process involved two key steps: first, creating rendered sketches, and second, 3D modeling the prototype and its internal components based on these sketches and previous sketches. Once completed, detailed renders of the prototype were produced to showcase the form, design, functionality, and features of the speaker to the client.

Final Sketches
Components
Prototype
Features

The rendered sketches were digitally created, incorporating material inspiration from the brand research to ensure alignment with the brand’s aesthetic.

3D modeling was used to design both the internal and external components of the speaker, resulting in accurate and detailed components that are ready for future development.

The prototype was developed from the final and rendered sketches, incorporating material inspiration from the brand research to accurately reflect the brand's aesthetic and design language.

The digital prototype was rendered in various environments to demonstrate its feature usability to the client and to showcase its real-world application with users.

Final Sketches
Components
Prototype
Features

The rendered sketches were digitally created, incorporating material inspiration from the brand research to ensure alignment with the brand’s aesthetic.

3D modeling was used to design both the internal and external components of the speaker, resulting in accurate and detailed components that are ready for future development.

The prototype was developed from the final and rendered sketches, incorporating material inspiration from the brand research to accurately reflect the brand's aesthetic and design language.

The digital prototype was rendered in various environments to demonstrate its feature usability to the client and to showcase its real-world application with users.

Mobile App Prototype
Showcased the Product Concept with a Persona, User Flow, and Interactive Demo

A prototype was developed to demonstrate to the client how their concept for a product, designed to bring people together while accommodating their environment and social distancing restrictions, could work in practice. The presentation featured a persona, user flow, and interactive prototype to effectively showcase the design and functionality of the feature.

Persona
User Flow
Prototype

A scenario was developed based on the Bang & Olufsen fanatic persona to set the scene and effectively showcase the surround sound feature to be demonstrated.

A walkthrough of the user flow using high-fidelity wireframes was conducted to thoroughly explain all aspects of surround sound mode, effectively illustrating its features and functionality.

A video recording of the clickable prototype was created to showcase a realistic example of how to invite a user to join surround sound mode.

Persona
User Flow
Prototype

A scenario was developed based on the Bang & Olufsen fanatic persona to set the scene and effectively showcase the surround sound feature to be demonstrated.

A walkthrough of the user flow using high-fidelity wireframes was conducted to thoroughly explain all aspects of surround sound mode, effectively illustrating its features and functionality.

A video recording of the clickable prototype was created to showcase a realistic example of how to invite a user to join surround sound mode.

Final Solution
Produces Beosound A3 And A Redesigned Mobile App for Seamless Integration and Enhanced User Experience

The design process resulted in Beosound A3, a versatile portable speaker with a charging base that also acts as a wireless hub, connecting both wired and wireless speakers. Additionally, the mobile app was redesigned to integrate the speaker's features, enhancing the overall user experience and meeting both client and user needs.

Client Needs
User Needs

Beosound A3 is the perfect response to the client's request for a new product that seamlessly integrates into their product line and mobile app. Designed to adapt to various environments and social settings, it also considers and accommodates the unique challenges posed by COVID and its aftermath.

Beosound A3 is the solution Bang & Olufsen fans didn't know they needed. With a growing collection of Bang & Olufsen products, the two-in-one design of Beosound A3 connects existing home products and provides a portable speaker for on-the-go use. It's a must-have, not only for the seasoned B&O fan but also for music enthusiasts and audio aficionados discovering B&O products. With Beosound A3's Bluetooth AUX connectors, even non-Bluetooth devices can join the party.

Client Needs
User Needs

Beosound A3 is the perfect response to the client's request for a new product that seamlessly integrates into their product line and mobile app. Designed to adapt to various environments and social settings, it also considers and accommodates the unique challenges posed by COVID and its aftermath.

Beosound A3 is the solution Bang & Olufsen fans didn't know they needed. With a growing collection of Bang & Olufsen products, the two-in-one design of Beosound A3 connects existing home products and provides a portable speaker for on-the-go use. It's a must-have, not only for the seasoned B&O fan but also for music enthusiasts and audio aficionados discovering B&O products. With Beosound A3's Bluetooth AUX connectors, even non-Bluetooth devices can join the party.

During Covid

‍

Amid COVID, staying at home is easy, but going outside is still essential, even with social distancing being paramount. With Beosound A3's surround sound, collaborative playlist, and friends feature, you can enjoy an immersive communal listening experience while maintaining a safe distance with friends or willing participants.

After Covid

‍

Once the pandemic ends, it will be business as usual for everyone. After being cooped up at home, people will be eager to get active or even throw a celebration. Whatever they choose, Beosound A3 is ready.

Social Settings

‍

Whether it's an in-home movie night or a visit to a family function, Beosound A3 is ready to shine with its collaborative playlist feature, allowing anyone to be the DJ

Various Environments

‍

Beosound A3’s speaker and charging base are ideal for indoor use, but its portability and durability also make it well-suited for outdoor environments. With built-in music storage, Beosound A3 is perfect for outings without Wi-Fi—simply send your downloaded music to the speaker via Bluetooth and select songs from the app or speaker. No Wi-Fi needed.

Speaker

‍

Among the various products Bang & Olufsen offers, designing a new speaker was the obvious choice to expand their product line.

Mobile App

‍

Bang & Olufsen’s elegant mobile application required only a bit of reorganization to seamlessly integrate Beosound A3's features into its robust suite of capabilities.

B & O Fanatics

‍

B&O fans are excited to connect their older B&O products to B&O multiroom feature.  With the added bonus of a new portable B&O product to show off to their friends. Its collaborative features make it the perfect way for them to boast about B&O by giving their friends a way to share in the experience it

Audio Aficionados

‍

The portability and connectivity make audio Aficionados eager to take sound with them. But even more excited to connect it to their existing devices to enhance their at-home audio experience

Music Enthusiasts

‍

The friendly design and features make Beosound a great introduction to music enthusiasts who are looking for a versatile quality product.

During Covid

‍

Amid COVID, staying at home is easy, but going outside is still essential, even with social distancing being paramount. With Beosound A3's surround sound, collaborative playlist, and friends feature, you can enjoy an immersive communal listening experience while maintaining a safe distance with friends or willing participants.

After Covid

‍

Once the pandemic ends, it will be business as usual for everyone. After being cooped up at home, people will be eager to get active or even throw a celebration. Whatever they choose, Beosound A3 is ready.

Social Settings

‍

Whether it's an in-home movie night or a visit to a family function, Beosound A3 is ready to shine with its collaborative playlist feature, allowing anyone to be the DJ

Various Environments

‍

Beosound A3’s speaker and charging base are ideal for indoor use, but its portability and durability also make it well-suited for outdoor environments. With built-in music storage, Beosound A3 is perfect for outings without Wi-Fi—simply send your downloaded music to the speaker via Bluetooth and select songs from the app or speaker. No Wi-Fi needed.

Speaker

‍

Among the various products Bang & Olufsen offers, designing a new speaker was the obvious choice to expand their product line.

Mobile App

‍

Bang & Olufsen’s elegant mobile application required only a bit of reorganization to seamlessly integrate Beosound A3's features into its robust suite of capabilities.

B & O Fanatics

‍

B&O fans are excited to connect their older B&O products to B&O multiroom feature.  With the added bonus of a new portable B&O product to show off to their friends. Its collaborative features make it the perfect way for them to boast about B&O by giving their friends a way to share in the experience it

Audio Aficionados

‍

The portability and connectivity make audio Aficionados eager to take sound with them. But even more excited to connect it to their existing devices to enhance their at-home audio experience

Music Enthusiasts

‍

The friendly design and features make Beosound a great introduction to music enthusiasts who are looking for a versatile quality product.

During Covid

‍

Amid COVID, staying at home is easy, but going outside is still essential, even with social distancing being paramount. With Beosound A3's surround sound, collaborative playlist, and friends feature, you can enjoy an immersive communal listening experience while maintaining a safe distance with friends or willing participants.

After Covid

‍

Once the pandemic ends, it will be business as usual for everyone. After being cooped up at home, people will be eager to get active or even throw a celebration. Whatever they choose, Beosound A3 is ready.

Social Settings

‍

Whether it's an in-home movie night or a visit to a family function, Beosound A3 is ready to shine with its collaborative playlist feature, allowing anyone to be the DJ

Various Environments

‍

Beosound A3’s speaker and charging base are ideal for indoor use, but its portability and durability also make it well-suited for outdoor environments. With built-in music storage, Beosound A3 is perfect for outings without Wi-Fi—simply send your downloaded music to the speaker via Bluetooth and select songs from the app or speaker. No Wi-Fi needed.

Speaker

‍

Among the various products Bang & Olufsen offers, designing a new speaker was the obvious choice to expand their product line.

Mobile App

‍

Bang & Olufsen’s elegant mobile application required only a bit of reorganization to seamlessly integrate Beosound A3's features into its robust suite of capabilities.

B & O Fanatics

‍

B&O fans are excited to connect their older B&O products to B&O multiroom feature.  With the added bonus of a new portable B&O product to show off to their friends. Its collaborative features make it the perfect way for them to boast about B&O by giving their friends a way to share in the experience it

Audio Aficionados

‍

The portability and connectivity make audio Aficionados eager to take sound with them. But even more excited to connect it to their existing devices to enhance their at-home audio experience

Music Enthusiasts

‍

The friendly design and features make Beosound a great introduction to music enthusiasts who are looking for a versatile quality product.

During Covid

‍

Amid COVID, staying at home is easy, but going outside is still essential, even with social distancing being paramount. With Beosound A3's surround sound, collaborative playlist, and friends feature, you can enjoy an immersive communal listening experience while maintaining a safe distance with friends or willing participants.

After Covid

‍

Once the pandemic ends, it will be business as usual for everyone. After being cooped up at home, people will be eager to get active or even throw a celebration. Whatever they choose, Beosound A3 is ready.

Social Settings

‍

Whether it's an in-home movie night or a visit to a family function, Beosound A3 is ready to shine with its collaborative playlist feature, allowing anyone to be the DJ

Various Environments

‍

Beosound A3’s speaker and charging base are ideal for indoor use, but its portability and durability also make it well-suited for outdoor environments. With built-in music storage, Beosound A3 is perfect for outings without Wi-Fi—simply send your downloaded music to the speaker via Bluetooth and select songs from the app or speaker. No Wi-Fi needed.

Speaker

‍

Among the various products Bang & Olufsen offers, designing a new speaker was the obvious choice to expand their product line.

Mobile App

‍

Bang & Olufsen’s elegant mobile application required only a bit of reorganization to seamlessly integrate Beosound A3's features into its robust suite of capabilities.

B & O Fanatics

‍

B&O fans are excited to connect their older B&O products to B&O multiroom feature.  With the added bonus of a new portable B&O product to show off to their friends. Its collaborative features make it the perfect way for them to boast about B&O by giving their friends a way to share in the experience it

Audio Aficionados

‍

The portability and connectivity make audio Aficionados eager to take sound with them. But even more excited to connect it to their existing devices to enhance their at-home audio experience

Music Enthusiasts

‍

The friendly design and features make Beosound a great introduction to music enthusiasts who are looking for a versatile quality product.

During Covid

‍

Amid COVID, staying at home is easy, but going outside is still essential, even with social distancing being paramount. With Beosound A3's surround sound, collaborative playlist, and friends feature, you can enjoy an immersive communal listening experience while maintaining a safe distance with friends or willing participants.

After Covid

‍

Once the pandemic ends, it will be business as usual for everyone. After being cooped up at home, people will be eager to get active or even throw a celebration. Whatever they choose, Beosound A3 is ready.

Social Settings

‍

Whether it's an in-home movie night or a visit to a family function, Beosound A3 is ready to shine with its collaborative playlist feature, allowing anyone to be the DJ

Various Environments

‍

Beosound A3’s speaker and charging base are ideal for indoor use, but its portability and durability also make it well-suited for outdoor environments. With built-in music storage, Beosound A3 is perfect for outings without Wi-Fi—simply send your downloaded music to the speaker via Bluetooth and select songs from the app or speaker. No Wi-Fi needed.

Speaker

‍

Among the various products Bang & Olufsen offers, designing a new speaker was the obvious choice to expand their product line.

Mobile App

‍

Bang & Olufsen’s elegant mobile application required only a bit of reorganization to seamlessly integrate Beosound A3's features into its robust suite of capabilities.

B & O Fanatics

‍

B&O fans are excited to connect their older B&O products to B&O multiroom feature.  With the added bonus of a new portable B&O product to show off to their friends. Its collaborative features make it the perfect way for them to boast about B&O by giving their friends a way to share in the experience it

Audio Aficionados

‍

The portability and connectivity make audio Aficionados eager to take sound with them. But even more excited to connect it to their existing devices to enhance their at-home audio experience

Music Enthusiasts

‍

The friendly design and features make Beosound a great introduction to music enthusiasts who are looking for a versatile quality product.

During Covid

‍

Amid COVID, staying at home is easy, but going outside is still essential, even with social distancing being paramount. With Beosound A3's surround sound, collaborative playlist, and friends feature, you can enjoy an immersive communal listening experience while maintaining a safe distance with friends or willing participants.

After Covid

‍

Once the pandemic ends, it will be business as usual for everyone. After being cooped up at home, people will be eager to get active or even throw a celebration. Whatever they choose, Beosound A3 is ready.

Social Settings

‍

Whether it's an in-home movie night or a visit to a family function, Beosound A3 is ready to shine with its collaborative playlist feature, allowing anyone to be the DJ

Various Environments

‍

Beosound A3’s speaker and charging base are ideal for indoor use, but its portability and durability also make it well-suited for outdoor environments. With built-in music storage, Beosound A3 is perfect for outings without Wi-Fi—simply send your downloaded music to the speaker via Bluetooth and select songs from the app or speaker. No Wi-Fi needed.

Speaker

‍

Among the various products Bang & Olufsen offers, designing a new speaker was the obvious choice to expand their product line.

Mobile App

‍

Bang & Olufsen’s elegant mobile application required only a bit of reorganization to seamlessly integrate Beosound A3's features into its robust suite of capabilities.

B & O Fanatics

‍

B&O fans are excited to connect their older B&O products to B&O multiroom feature.  With the added bonus of a new portable B&O product to show off to their friends. Its collaborative features make it the perfect way for them to boast about B&O by giving their friends a way to share in the experience it

Audio Aficionados

‍

The portability and connectivity make audio Aficionados eager to take sound with them. But even more excited to connect it to their existing devices to enhance their at-home audio experience

Music Enthusiasts

‍

The friendly design and features make Beosound a great introduction to music enthusiasts who are looking for a versatile quality product.

During Covid

‍

Amid COVID, staying at home is easy, but going outside is still essential, even with social distancing being paramount. With Beosound A3's surround sound, collaborative playlist, and friends feature, you can enjoy an immersive communal listening experience while maintaining a safe distance with friends or willing participants.

After Covid

‍

Once the pandemic ends, it will be business as usual for everyone. After being cooped up at home, people will be eager to get active or even throw a celebration. Whatever they choose, Beosound A3 is ready.

Social Settings

‍

Whether it's an in-home movie night or a visit to a family function, Beosound A3 is ready to shine with its collaborative playlist feature, allowing anyone to be the DJ

Various Environments

‍

Beosound A3’s speaker and charging base are ideal for indoor use, but its portability and durability also make it well-suited for outdoor environments. With built-in music storage, Beosound A3 is perfect for outings without Wi-Fi—simply send your downloaded music to the speaker via Bluetooth and select songs from the app or speaker. No Wi-Fi needed.

Speaker

‍

Among the various products Bang & Olufsen offers, designing a new speaker was the obvious choice to expand their product line.

Mobile App

‍

Bang & Olufsen’s elegant mobile application required only a bit of reorganization to seamlessly integrate Beosound A3's features into its robust suite of capabilities.

B & O Fanatics

‍

B&O fans are excited to connect their older B&O products to B&O multiroom feature.  With the added bonus of a new portable B&O product to show off to their friends. Its collaborative features make it the perfect way for them to boast about B&O by giving their friends a way to share in the experience it

Audio Aficionados

‍

The portability and connectivity make audio Aficionados eager to take sound with them. But even more excited to connect it to their existing devices to enhance their at-home audio experience

Music Enthusiasts

‍

The friendly design and features make Beosound a great introduction to music enthusiasts who are looking for a versatile quality product.

Solution Meets Client Expectations, Receives Positive Feedback, and is deemed viable for Launch

In the end, the project successfully met the client's expectations, who were pleased with the solution and provided positive feedback. Although they had some technical concerns about the features, they were confident in their ability to resolve them. Overall, the client felt that the solution had strong potential as a viable product for launch.

Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3

This project deepened my appreciation for the time and effort involved in creating high-end products. It proved to be a valuable addition to the Bang & Olufsen product line, with strong potential for market success.

Thanks for exploring my work!

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