Design Project - Craft - Headphones

Concept In the context of developing economies like India, craft collaboration enables designers to work with artisans in the creation of new manifestations of cultural identity as a path for linking the traditional knowledge of the past with aspirations for the future.

A more circular music experience.

Circular economy

The Challenge: globally we throw away 15 million kg of headphones every year either due to simple mechanical faults or because of technology advances. How can we capture the value that is being lost in this discarded material?

Craft has to be more than just a home decor, the crafts has to align with modern needs and utility.

11-05-2020 Shikhar Bhardwaj - UG HMA semester VI I follow the process of learning by doing. When it comes to designing products, I try to put planet first before people or play. As craft-techno designers, the craft sector needs our intervention at multiple levels. www.sgraphs.com

Rajputana Customs -

• Design for planet

In the opinion of Virginia Woolf, “nobody ever said a thing they meant, or ever talked of a feeling they felt, but that was what music was for.” Nietzsche asserted that “without music, life would be a mistake.” Charles Darwin vowed that if he had his “life to live over again,” he would “listen to music at least once every week.”

There should be a headphone for every mood, music, taste and person.

Evolution of Headphones The first pair of headphones that have ever been seen were back in 1881 which were used by telephone operator women.

The next set of successful headphones were made in 1937 the DT-48’s were made by Beyerdynamic instantly became the true first widespread type of headphones available to the public the newest addition to the technology to them was that they took no other equipment to use them.

1880

1937 1910

1966

The morse code operator also used headphones mainly in ships and areas of high noise during WWI.

Inventor John Koss built the first pair of hifi stereo headphones to demonstrate the sound quality of his portable phonograph, which had an innovative “privacy switch” for personal, silent listening. It turned out that the headphones, which allowed people to listen quietly to stereos at home and were popular with military men returned from the war, sold faster than the stereo. Moving into the jet age of the 1960s, the Koss headphone developed a more future-forw ard, hightech look, with broader headbands, radio dials, and noise-blocking cups reminiscent of fighter pilots’ headgear.

With the rise of the Beatles, Koss endorsed the Beatlephones, a signature Koss headphone with a Beatles sticker on it. Call it the first celebrity endorsement of sorts.

The release of the Walkman, the first superlight portable cassette stereo, transformed the existential function of headphones from a technology of quiet concentration to a way of creating freewheeling individual autonomy and wall-less privacy in public space. The Walkman as an entirely new sort of technohuman hybrid experience.

As the fashion began to influence the world, it contributed to the evolution of headphones too. The neckband design for headphones has its roots in the glitzy world of fashion.

1979

2000 1997 In 1997( specific date not know) a man by the name of Jaap Haartsen (he was dutch that’s why the weird name) invented the Bluetooth headphones. This invention changed headphones dramatically because there was no cables needed for headphones to connect to a device. Also in more resent times it is replacing the standard 3.5 mm jack on devices such as the IPhone 7

2001

Apple changed the music game in 2001 with the iPod. Since then, over 300 million iPods have been sold, all with the accompanying pair of earbuds.

Types Closed-Back Headphones • block out any peripheral noise • isolated audio experience (High Bass)

Settings : • musicians in recording settings • private listening experience • where you don’t want to disturb others Design : • come in both the over-ear style which covers the entire ear as well as the smaller onear style which rests slightly on top of the ear • bulkier • excellent high-quality sound

Open-Back Headphones

• open” ear cups that allow some sound to escape into the environment • “airy and open sound” (more like listening to speakers in a room) • Less Bass Settings : • mixing and mastering in studio settings • true, flat sound so they can hear exactly what the artist intended the listener to experience • more comfortable to wear for long periods of time Design : • come in an over-the-ear style or they can come in the smaller on ear style as well.

Bluetooth Headphones

• Headphones with Bluetooth technology have a small computer chip inside of them that allow you to pair with the device you are playing music from • require charging Settings : • gym, on-the-go, at home Design : • avoid the hassle of cords https://www.wirerealm.com/guides/different-headphone-types-list

Over-Ear Headphones

• more technically, labeled as ‘circumaural‘ • on the top of head and “over” (on, as well as around, our ear cartilages so the entire ear is “cupped”) to focus on sound isolation • quite comfortable some cups are even made of velvet and\or leather) and don’t crunch your ears • Settings : • in the studio or with gaming • a pristine and audio-intimate environment Design : • bulkiest style

On-Ear Headphones

• on-ear headphones are a little smaller • Supra-aural headphones • doesn’t cause you to sweat Settings : • allows some sound from the surrounding environment to exit • personal preference Design : • go over the head and rests on top of the ears

Noise-Cancelling Headphones

• actively reduce the sound that you hear from your surroundings to create a quiet environment for listening to your music or sound • ittle internal engine does this is by measuring the lower frequencies of your surroundings (there’s actually a little microphone built on to the outside of the ear cups) and creating an equal and opposite frequency that cancels out that sound the little microphone picks up • use sound proofing which keeps out many of the higher frequencies, or a combination of the two methods Settings : • popular for air travel Design : • hutting off from the world’s outside, ambient distractions

Anatomy of headphones Sony - MDR-XB450 ₹ 1,899 / ₹ 1,999 (with mic)

Feature : • Extra Bass • Padded Earchusions for extra comfort • Flat tangle-free cables • Hands free control • Flat-folding for portability • Super lightweight design Ideal for causal music listening and commuting Problems : • Made entirely of plastic and rexine • Cable problem (got loose) and and audio • Used it for 1.5 years

Dissection - Understanding design decisions through product autopsy

Autopsy

On-ear Headphones (Rip-offs) Feature : • Detachable cable • Light in weight • Foldable Ideal for causal music listening and commuting Problems : • Made entirely of plastic and rexine • The plastic structure broke • Not easy to fix

Sample - 2

Autopsy

Over-ear Headphones Feature : • Came free with laptop • Foldable Ideal for gaming and entertainment Problems : • Made entirely of plastic and rexine • The plastic structure broke • Not easy to fix • Bulky • Out-dated • Separate wires for headphones and microphone

Lenovo

Autopsy

On-ear Headphones Feature : • Cheap • Adjustable • Light weight Ideal for short video conferencing or customer-service Problems : • Made entirely of plastic and rexine • Not easy to fix • Fragile • Out-dated • Separate wires for headphones and microphone • Uncomfortable ear-pads

Sample - 4

Autopsy

₹ 1,000 (with mic) On-ear Headphones Feature : • Cheap • Adjustable • Light weight • Good sound • Foldable • Portable • Steady wiring Ideal for casual music listening, commuting and attenting audio calls Problems : • Made entirely of plastic and rexine • Not easy to fix • Not a future proof product

Miniso

Autopsy

₹ 19,000 (without mic) Over-ear, Closed-back headphones Feature : • Bluetooth • Comfortable (soft-cushion earcups) • Durable • Comes with case • Better built • Works even with cable • A little touch of leather on the headband • Noice Cancelling Ideal for music listening and air travel Problems : • Mostly made of plastic and nylon.

• Too expensive • Not locally made • Parts and service is expensive too

Bose SoundLink® around-ear wireless headphones II

Autopsy

User Experience Mapping - Vinayak User experience map is a mirror to the user interactions within your products/services.

Designing products used to be fairly straightforward: create a quality product, create a quality experience. Now, design requires the consideration of a far more complicated customer journey. It means not only designing better products, but imagining new, exceptional services around these products, then bringing it all together seamlessly, meaningfully across a series of digital and real world touchpoints–in a world that is more competitive and crowded than ever.

The art is in the activity, not the artifact.

What they say; • iPhone compatibility • Online purchase • Online experience of the product What they do; • Pouch to keep it safe • Additional connector for iphone What they think; • Good sound • Honest material What they feel; • Comfort • Well Balanced • Classic product

Bangs & Olufsen H6

User Experience Mapping - Monish User experience map is a mirror to the user interactions within your products/services.

What they say; • Sound quality • Warranty • Offline experience of the product What they do; • Defect in structural problem • Follows What they think; • Headphone healthy wearing habits What they feel; • Brand power • Sporty

Beats

Trends Eco-anxiety Balanced · Supportive · Environmentalists Career-driven · Urban expats · Hustlers Community-invested · Localists · Conscious

#vocalforlocal

We won’t be on lockdown forever, but we will emerge in a different world, so now is the time to start envisioning different products and experiences.

What should the re-emergence be like?

Market Analysis Looking into recent development in Headphones Meze Audio

Teenage Engineering

Grado Labs

Kiwi Co.

Ondu

Meze 99 Classics - $309.00

M-1 personal monitor - $79.00

RS2e - $495

Stem Projects - Headphones - $35.00

135 Pocket Pinhole Camera - $150

• • • • •

• foldable headphones • detachable and built in microphones • for voice sampling • daisy-chain several headphones to share the listening experience

• small family-run business • passionate audiophiles • four-storey South Brooklyn townhouse/factory • crafted and built by hand, the oldschool way • headphones start from $49

• • • •

• • • •

perfect natural sound walnut wood earcups soft earpads spring steel headband an heirloom rather than just a pair of headphones

Build the headphone headband Learn about the speaker driver Learn how to use your headphones Experiment with Stereo Sound and Wiring • Explore how speakers and other electroacoustic transducers turn electricity into sound

Sustainable Simple Design Handcrafted Durable

Accessories Possible design intervention in headphone accessories.

Desktop headphone stand The Kubuni Headphonestand BT We have a fondness for audio design. Our products are designed from this passion, to create stunning equipment. We craft these by hand to ensure quality of the highest levels.

Heaphone pouch / bag / case

Hand braided wire

Brief Designing a modular locally headphones for people to feel nostalagic, be sustainable and speaks out as a crafted product.

Possible outcomes of the product • Eco-conscious • Luxury • Past Sentiments / Nostalgic • Good Sound quality • Simplicity in function and design • Energy efficient material Things to consider while desiging • Properties of headphones • Reason to Thoughts • Properties of crafts/materials/techniques (Collecting right ingredients) • Replacement of Materials • Ergonomics of headphone • Joinery Aspect • Product Detailing • Asethetics - Look and Feel Ergonomics of headphones • The Diameter of the Speaker Housing to hold and put it on the head. = Between 5-7cm • Length adjustibility = 4 cm each side • Size of the Ear-pads = Between 6-8 cm for (on the Ear) • Size of the Headband = ~30cm as a circumference of a semicircle

The product’s form, function and aesthetic will largely depend on local craft, material and technique; to make it energy efficient and environmental friendly.

Birmingham to Trivandrum

The ideal village house is constructed of materials from within a five-mile radius’ Mahatma Gandhi’s adage had taken a deep root in Baker’s mind.

~ Laurie Baker, Truth in Architecture

Craftstorming Possible crafts, material and techniques that could fit in my desired headphones

Kerfing Wood Bending

Headband spring stell bow

Jawaja Leather

Tecomella undulata is a tree species, locally known as rohida found in Thar Desert regions of India and Pakistan. It is a mediumsized tree that produces quality timber and is the main source of timber amongst the indigenous tree species of desert regions of Shekhawati and Marwar in Rajasthan. The trade name of the tree species is desert teak or Marwar teak.

Felt is a textile material that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibers together. Felt can be made of natural fibers such as wool or animal fur. Felt has special properties that allow it to be used for a wide variety of purposes. “It is fire-retardant and self-extinguishing; it dampens vibration and absorbs sound; and it can hold large amounts of fluid without feeling wet...”

Dhurries made in Rajasthan at Salawas are known as Panja dhurries and are exported on large scale. In some part of Rajasthan, Punjab and Harayana, the dhurries make a part of dowry given at the time of a daughter’s marriage.

Veneer Wood Bending