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-Sound × Surroundings-
BRAUN HARMONY
An expansion into the headphone audio department with an innovative tie to awareness and surroundings
Brand Strategy - Problem Solving - Form Development - Wearable Design
Fall 2023
Duration - 14 Weeks
Images on this page are for demonstration purposes only in a non-profit educational context. They do not represent or endorse actual products or services of Braun.
BRIEF:
Design for Braun by reviving the iconic style it was once renowned for while also expanding into new opportunities
CLASSIC HERITAGE
The Brand
Braun is a classic brand, with a rich heritage. Their products were mainly designed by Dieter Rams, who championed the idea that "form follows function".
Their current audio department has a focus on speakers, a system that they've been designing for decades.
A MISSED OPPORTUNITY
Braun has long focused on speakers in the audio sector, leaving a gap in their market for headphones. With headphones becoming essential for daily activities like commuting, exercising, and relaxing, they are now a key part of modern audio use. This growing demand for headphones presents a missed opportunity for Braun to expand into this highly popular and versatile market.
INTERVIEWS
Ten interviews were conducted with headphone users, covering all three applicable categories
Audiophile
Outdoorist
Student
Do you use the ambient noise feature on your headphones?
What is your main purpose for using headphones?
What are the most desired features when using headphones?
Yes
80%
No
20%
Music
70%
Podcasts
10%
Entertainment
20%
Audio Quality
30%
Comfort
10%
Awareness
60%
JOURNEY MAP
Examined daily routines and analyzed user behavior
Getting up and preparing for class
Attending classes and taking notes
Working out while listening to music or audiobooks
Return back, spend the evening unwinding
Prep
Commute
Class
Study
Gym
Walk
Return
Listening to music while commuting by bike or on foot
Focusing on schoolwork or projects with music
Taking a walk to relax, enjoying nature and music
Analyzing the daily routine revealed key moments where listening to external sounds has the most priority over music or other audio options. For example, when biking to school, users need to hear approaching cars; at the gym, they must focus on the sounds of their breathing technique; and during walks, they want to enjoy the park's environmental sounds.
KEY INSIGHTS
Final takeaways from the entire research process
Awareness Comes First
When biking or walking outdoors, users must hear external sounds, like approaching cars or environmental cues. This helps them to be sharp and stay aware of their surroundings.
Authentic Experience Matters
Current headphones with ambient noise features have pass through audio, lacking a true connection to the outside environment. Nothing compares to the authentic sound of the outside world, rather than filtered audio.
Audio Enhances Performance
Users can improve their technique by focusing on natural sounds, such as their breath or movement. This connection to their body's rhythm helps boost overall performance and mental focus.
AWARE MOTIVATORS
The User
Motivators want free, open experience with dependable audio from the surrounding environment to advance them forward.
The awareness they carry keeps them reactive, allowing for better responsiveness to their environment and improved performance in meeting their needs.
HOW CAN WE ESTABLISH A CONNECTION WITH THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT?
CONTECTIVE OPENNESS
The Concept
Opening the front and back of the headphones connects users to the outside world, enabling them to hear bodily cues, trust their surroundings, and stay engaged with their activity.
The iris mechanism on the back adjusts to block or allow outside noise by using a ring on the outside, giving users control over their sound environment.
DEVIATED DILEMA
Modern Issue
Modern Braun products, mainly shavers, deviate from Dieter Rams' "form follows function" philosophy, prioritizing aesthetic trends over functional clarity.
Rams' timeless and intuitive designs, with every element serving a purpose, gave the brand lasting relevance and identity. Reembracing this approach would restore Braun's heritage, making its products more distinctive, practical, and true to their roots.
SKETCH PROCESS
Reviving Braun's Legacy
I designed the earcup shape with simplicity and followed Braun's "form follows function" design philosophy
![he5].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ce119_b6afab964fa4475d8e63557c74359712~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_104,h_72,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_avif,quality_auto/he5%5D.png)
I finalized the earcup shape and drew inspiration from heritage Braun products to design the headband connection
I then completed the connection between the earcup and headband
PROTOTYPING STUDY
Usage Insights
I studied how the ear fits with the earcups and discovered the need for different taper angles to ensure a proper fit
3D FORM VISUALIZATION
Shaped for Awareness
I shaped the earcup based on the human ear, curving and tapering the sides with more length at the top and less at the bottom
Inspired by classic Braun watches, I designed the headband-earcup connection based on their style
I added the ring to open up the back of the headphone, refined the details, and prepared it for rendering.
BRAUN HARMONY
-Sound × Surroundings-
IRIS MECHANIC
Opening/Closing
EXPLODED VIEW
How Everything Comes Together
COLORWAYS
Charcoal/Slate/Azure
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