University News Last updated 05 March 2013
A product design student from Birmingham City University has been praised by one of the world’s leading portable audio and video game accessory companies – Logic3 – for his take on the ideal MP3 sound system.
Students studying on the MA Product Design and MA Design and Visualisation courses at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD) – part of Birmingham City University - were challenged to evolve new audio concepts for Logic3’s iconic Ferrari collection which features a range of headphones and earphones, all designed to represent Ferrari’s excellence and flair.
Nai-Shuan Tseng, an MA Product Design student originally from Taiwan, was selected as the winner of the project for his ‘Noisy Tribe’ stacking MP3 player concept. Inspired by tribal totems, the stackable unit selects and mixes random music tracks to present a unique listening experience.
Nai-Shuan said: “The inspiration for the design came from the spirit of tribal totems which represent unity and act as a significant symbol for the tribe. The taller the totem illustrates the more powerful the tribe and likewise with my design, the more modules stacked, the more powerful the sound.”
Chris Emmett and Nick Vessey from The Design Connective, who designed the existing Logic 3 audio range, along with Graham Powell - course director of MA Product Design programme at BIAD - helped guide and support the students with their individual design ideas. The students also visited the Graypaul Ferrari showroom in Solihull where they were given access to over 20 cars for primary research purposes, allowing them to experience first-hand how design plays a significant part in making these luxury sports cars so iconic.
The finished 3D models of the student’s final audio concepts, along with packaging proposals and supporting research, were formally presented to the designers and Michael Kirkham, Director at Logic3.
Michael Kirkham presented Nai-Shuan with his award – a top of the range Ferrari Scuderia FS1 speaker system – and said: “Nai-Shuan’s idea fits perfectly with the Ferrari ethos and its core brand values, as well as offering a truly innovative use of technology and design. The research, design detailing, model making and product packaging are also very impressive.”
Graham Powell, Course Director for the MA Product Design added that it had been a difficult decision to make, with so many impressive design ideas and that all students should be commended for their design concepts.