Year
2023
Mode
Team
Category
Electronics
Product Duration
4 weeks
Some brands feel so consistent that you can recognize them before you see the logo. Some brands remain recognizable no matter what they create. Their values stay consistent through form, detail, and experience.
We began this project with a challenge: design a product for Electrolux that did not yet exist in its lineup, while ensuring it still felt unmistakably true to the brand. Rather than adding another appliance, we saw an opportunity to imagine Electrolux in a more mobile, lifestyle-driven space.
That direction led to Xenith—a portable speaker shaped by Scandinavian clarity, premium restraint, and inclusive usability.
We began the process by understanding the brand language and DNA before designing the product.
A detailed study of Electrolux products revealed recurring cues: geometric precision, layered surfaces, calm proportions, and understated confidence. These principles became the foundation for entering a new category without losing authenticity.
In parallel, we studied the portable speaker and it's market to understand user expectations and common pain points. Many products relied on repetitive cylindrical forms, cluttered controls, or generic styling. We also mapped real usage scenarios—from homes and cafés to parks, travel, and social gatherings.
As the research took shape, a clear gap began to appear. Premium speakers often prioritized specifications, while lifestyle products leaned heavily on novelty. Very few felt equally suited to a refined interior and to life on the move.
We identified an opportunity to create something more balanced. Xenith needed to feel architectural when resting in the home, yet effortless when carried outdoors.
Inclusive design became central to this thinking: controls should be obvious, tactile, and easy to use, while the form should feel intuitive to lift, hold, and orient for a wide range of users.
We translated those insights into form through an extensive ideation phase. Rather than follow the familiar speaker cylinder, we explored faceted volumes, layered transitions, and stable silhouettes inspired by Electrolux’s visual language. Sketch after sketch refined how the product could feel distinctive, portable, and quietly premium. Gradually, the form evolved into a sculpted polygonal body with an angled speaker face that improves sound projection while giving Xenith a confident stance. We intentionally reduced interaction to one clear control zone, proving that simplicity often creates a better experience than adding more features.
With the direction defined, we focused on making Xenith feel credible and effortless in use. CAD iterations refined proportions, internal packaging, battery placement, acoustic volume, and strap integration. Ergonomic studies helped shape surfaces that feel secure in hand without appearing bulky. We developed the control knob as a tactile interface that can be found and adjusted quickly, whether in low light or while carrying the speaker. CMF exploration balanced matte and gloss finishes to create depth and sophistication, while remaining true to Electrolux’s premium identity.
Presenting Xenith—a portable speaker that feels less like a category jump and more like a natural evolution of the Electrolux brand. Its sculpted form, intuitive controls, and integrated carry strap allow it to move seamlessly between home and social environments. By prioritizing clarity, tactility, and ease of use, Xenith broadens accessibility without compromising elegance. More than a speaker concept, it demonstrates how careful brand study and inclusive design can create products that feel both fresh and immediately familiar.
