La Sono
La Sono is a design project of synthesizers for a beginner audience who want to learn about music and synthesizers. It is designed for ease of use, fun and flexibility.
Research
Figuring out the various aspects and elements of music. Also mapped over the various stakeholders involved and how they contribute to the music experience.
Relooking at synthesizers as any machines which would allow for creative expression and appreciation of sound simultaneously
Teenage Engineering
POM 170
Teenage Engineering
Pocket Calculator
LittleBits
Korg Synth
Teenage Engineering
OP-Z
These products were used to analyze beginner's reaction and user test were conducted using guerilla testing method. The participants consisted of 6 male and 6 female users in the age group between 18-24 year old college students.
Synthesis
The activities were closely observed and mapped from taking the packaging to using the instrument. Each step was further mapped to having a positive, neutral or negative emotional arousal. Various insights and opportunity areas were derived from the activity mapping.
User Insights
Opportunity areas were derived and categorized. The orange cards are the final opportunity areas which are chosen ahead to be focused on. The most critical and diverse opportunity areas were chosen.
The opportunity areas and user insights were converted to design specifications.
Redefined Brief
Creating simple and approachable synthesizers for 18-24 year old male and female who want to start learning about music and instruments. The device should feel inviting and should be easy to incorporate in the user’s home
Conceptualization
Various concepts were sketched which answered the brief. Blue sky thinking and banana thinking methods were used to come up with innovative ideas.
Module specifications for each of the synthesizer modules were defined based on user needs. These were done keeping in mind technical feasibility.
Various anthropometric considerations were taken for knob sizes, seating posture and heat, screen tilt angle etc.
The measurements for each module from the module specification and anthropometric measurements were defined and rough layout with style were created.
Various details on the product were ideated. The goal was to create the physical interfaces as intuitive and easy to understand as possible.
Various design directions were defined and the best iterations were taken ahead. The original measurements, feasibility to technology and anthropometric considerations were taken in mind while designing.
Final Outcome
