Audio remote

2014, Bose

Concept for satisfying home audio control

Work
︎ Form development
︎ Foam prototyping
︎ 3D modeling
︎ Prototyping with 3D prints, machined aluminum, tact switches

Goals
︎ Visual simplicity
︎ Intuitive, easy, and satisfying to use
︎ Must include existing Soundtouch six-button keypad

Volume control is one of the most important commands for any audio system, yet it’s often lost in a sea of other small rubber buttons. I set out to create a remote that differentiates and celebrates volume control with a satisfying tactile experience. This concept is intended to be usable across a wide variety of home audio products.

The design features a volume control ring made of machined aluminum that runs along a set of three spring features to prevent looseness and dial in damping. The stiff, hefty, and damped ring conveys a sense of quality that is difficult to achieve with plastics. The body of the device is split into two main parts, connected at the center with a single screw, and these bodies are held apart from each other using tactile switches at four equidistant positions. The power, last, next, and play/pause commands can be actuated by pressing the top of the body anywhere near the icon. The four-way rocking arrangement creates a satisfying snap response and does a good job of preventing unintentional actuation.