SOUNDWAVE
Soundwave is a sustainable portable speaker made from recycled surfing equipment such as wetsuits (neoprene) and surfboards (epoxy). It gives the surfers at home the feeling of adventure and reminds them every day of the moments they experienced while practicing their sport.
One Video To Tell The Story (Dutch)
This is a presentation video of Soundwave, It shows all the steps taken from start to finish.
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Uncertainties Lead To The Best Ideas
In collaboration with Kloek & Moedig, we embarked on designing a portable home speaker made from locally recycled surf equipment, specifically targeting surfers. The speaker is intended to be assembled by social workshops across the Netherlands. A portable home speaker is one that remains in a fixed location within the home but can be easily moved when needed. It connects to mobile devices via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Kloek & Moedig had no prior experience in the speaker industry or with similar products, nor did the company have experience serving outdoor adventurers or surfers, which presented numerous challenges. In short, it was a fascinating and rewarding opportunity.
Research, Analyze & Brainstorm
The analysis phase included a series of studies, such as a market analysis to gain insights into the speaker industry, a product analysis to understand speaker functionality, multiple brainstorming sessions to generate ideas, and both quantitative and qualitative research to better understand the target audience. All collected data was displayed on the walls, facilitating the identification of key connections and insights.
Waste Streams In The Surfing Industry
The speaker is intended to be primarily made from recycled materials. As a result, research was conducted into waste streams within the surfing equipment industry to identify suitable materials.
A significant amount of epoxy is wasted during its application to surfboards. Epoxies are polymers made from a resin and a hardener, with a new mixture being created for each layer. Leftover epoxy from previous layers cannot be reused, as it hardens slowly and has a different viscosity than newly mixed epoxy. As a result, approximately one-third of the epoxy produced is discarded or ends up on the ground.
A wetsuit is primarily used for water sports such as surfing, windsurfing, and kite surfing, and is made mostly from neoprene, a material known for its exceptional strength. While damaged wetsuits are sometimes repaired, they are often beyond repair. In the past, small startups have attempted to repurpose old wetsuits for products like laptop sleeves and yoga mats, though most of these initiatives are no longer active.
Sketching Ideas and Making Them Tangible
In addition to the materials already mentioned, we gathered a total of 13 diverse material samples. These were selected specifically to inspire and inform the development of our ideas, providing a broader range of possibilities for the design process. Each sample was carefully considered for its potential to contribute to the overall vision of the project.
Materials
Various material samples from surfing equipment were collected for inspiration in the process.
Mood boards
Mood boards were created to enhance sketches, highlighting specific feelings or themes.
Sketching
Ideas were developed on paper, supported by mood boards and material samples.
Each sketch is displayed on the wall, allowing everyone to draw inspiration from them.
Conceptualizing Sketches
A total of five concepts were digitized into concepts. they have been 3D modeled and rendered to get a better understanding of the dimensions and to be able to share them with interested parties.
Prototyping and Developing
After being selected as the target audience's favorite, Soundwave 1 underwent further development, though some improvements were still needed. For the prototype, a two-piece 3D-printed frame was used, with neoprene covering the bottom. The electronics were housed within the frame, and an epoxy top plate sealed the speaker. The sound quality was tested by an audio expert and also required enhancements.
Final Concept
The final adjustments were made and the final design was designed.
Detailed Renderings
Aluminum profiles (2 speakers).
Assembling the full-range driver into the frame.
Adding the neoprene to the frame.
Making sure the electronics are wired correctly.
Final result.
Final result.