top of page
Final Image 1.JPG
IMG_9647.JPG

Sports Speaker

Working individually, we were asked to design and produce a research prototype for a smart speaker concept exploring 3D form and shape.

During the project we had to conduct user research, generate ideas, develop a concept through form development and prototyping, and create a working prototype. We were also provided with a rapid electronics audio amplifier kit with a 3.5mm headphone jack, which we had to solder and incorporate into our final working prototype. 

Being a hockey player I was interested in researching how music can effect a player's performance, particularly before competitive matches. Instead of players listening to music and "getting in the zone" via personal headphones, the whole team could benefit from music and sounds from a speaker. This would aim to remove the sometimes awkward silences which can result in some of the players feeling nervous. 

 

As rugby is a big part of my family, it was an opportunity for me to develop my prototype design to target the rugby community. It was a chance to look into the sport of rugby and also get a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes. The targeted user for my smart speaker would be rugby players and coaching staff. I took design inspiration from the the typical rugby kicking tee to create an innovative yet portable sports speaker. 

To accompany my smart speaker I created an information app called 'Match Play'. My idea arose from the thought I had at the beginning of the project where I wanted to create a system that could improve efficiency of sporting tasks. I wanted to create an interactive screen where players could create an account, log in and navigate through screens to find information regarding their schedule for matches and training. I also wanted to create a screen that allowed the user to control their speaker via bluetooth. 

Deliverables

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge & Understanding

  • Demonstrate an understanding of a broad selection of prototyping techniques and their multiple roles throughout the design process.

  • Demonstrate an understanding of how to develop form and be able to contextualise it in historic and contemporary practice.

 

Skills

  • Use ethnographic research to ground new ideas in observed behaviour.

  • Construct a range of prototypes to meet the requirements of a design project.

  • Manipulate and develop form through a range of media and materials.

  • Apply knowledge of an engineering orientated CAD package through the production of a series of rendered images.

Transferable skills - Critical/Contextual

  • Make use of common primary design research methods.

Transferable skills - Employability

  • Interpret design work for communication to a wider audience using techniques such as video, presentations and social media.

bottom of page