Modular Docking Station
Music is a critical part of daily life for most people, and soundtracks can be the inspiration to uplift any moment. Whether you are listening to music at home, or need to take the tunes on the go - our proposal for a modular docking station with convertible passive speaker system and ergonomic cable management is sure to bring the music to any occasion.
Music is a critical part of daily life for most people, and soundtracks can be the inspiration to uplift any moment. Whether you are listening to music at home, or need to take the tunes on the go - our proposal for a modular docking station with convertible passive speaker system and ergonomic cable management is sure to bring the music to any occasion.
Timeline: 4 Weeks
Role: Ergonomic Cable Management Design, Interaction Design, Multi-Modal Design, 3D Modelling & CAD, User Experience & Market Research, Dunker Diagram, Concept Development, Additive Manufacturing, Prototyping
Tools: SOLIDWORKS, Sketching, User Research, Iterative Product Design
Ideation: As a business we value simplicity, functionality, and aesthetics meeting the needs of adventurous minimalists. We aspire to create products that are not only useful but that create an atmosphere of peace while promoting minimalism. Electronics are used around the world but require constant attention as they run on minimal battery power. By creating an electronics docking station we are providing people with an organized way to remember to charge their devices. With music being a core component to most electronics we created a passive speaker that can travel with the user, providing them with clear loud music while stationed or on the go.
Competitive Analysis: Existing technologies nurture different functionalities such as charging, passive speakers amplifying music and sleek charging solutions. Having these different features assembled together with a modular approach is an area less targeted.
Wired docking stations are commonly used in the IT industry due to their convenience and ability to enable high-speed data transfer. They connect portable devices to monitors or desktops through an HDMI cable or Display Port, offering a reliable solution compared to wireless systems that may suffer from channel congestion or internet issues. As a result, wired products are often preferred over wireless devices. The current speakers, charging stations and docking products focus on the age group of 16-45 year olds young individuals to seniors and working adults. Challenges that arise are as follows:
- Expensive
- Lack Multi-functional properties
- Not portable
Design Specifications:
Our design is modular, such that each assembly can be removed and transported in a smaller form.
- The Phone Docking and Speaker Assembly
- The Airpods and Watch Assembly
- The Cable Case Assembly
Prototype & Renderings:
Passive Speaker System For the design of the main speaker - several factors had to be considered. First, there must be a way to charge and hold the phone in an intuitive way - so the wide angled back plate was designed with a charging port for the standard iPhone charging cord. Then, for the design of the speaker - inspiration as outlined in the section. II was gathered and used to transform the shape that carries sound from the iPhone speaker on the base of the phone to the environment. Use of rounded edges, and a progressively widening mouth allow for the carrying of sound and maximize sound quality. There is a pocket cut out beneath the phone that encapsulates the base of the phone - forcing the direction of the sound. The design was inspired by the ancient concave amphitheaters that served the purpose of naturally amplifying the sounds by the laws of physics and nature of sound travel.
Airpods Charging System the design of the Airpods and watch charging block was designed with the goal to hold both critical components while maintaining aesthetic design. For the Airpods, the design allows for the top-down insertion of the earbuds case directly onto a charging cable, where the port has been integrated into the physical design as to hide excess cable. The design of the Airpods holder allows for ease of device removal and charging indicator light visibility. For the watch, there is a circular cut out where the Apple watch cable can be pressed into, and allows the cable to flow out of the bottom of the block. There is a small trough shaped cutout where the watch can be guided into place. Lastly, the thickness of the Airpods holder was designed to allow the straps to be guided around this feature. Filleting and rounding is used with symmetry to give the design a smooth feel - matching the rounded edges seen on Apple products.
Cable Case design The cable case design allows for the two main blocks to sit directly on top of it. It collects the cables from the underside of those blocks, and has mushroom shaped guide features to allow for cable wrapping, and semi circle exit ports for the wires to escape for wall outlet charging.
Sketches:
