2021

Amplitude Audio

To develop a multiple speaker system and supporting application for Amplitude Audio using their unique technology for the B2B market.

Overview

Amplitude Audio is a brand known for its exceptional multiroom speaker technology, delivering top-tier sound quality. Our objective was to establish a unique brand identity and effectively convey the strengths of the technology and for that we followed a multiple step design process.

Keywords

User Experience, Story, Interface, User, Interactions

Team

Our interdisciplinary team of 7 - Maya, Ashwin, Vedant, Remi, Elise, Nathan, including industrial designers, digital designers, and UX designers, came together to tackle the challenges posed by Amplitude Audio.

Timeline

4 months

Design Process

We followed an in-depth design process to create an innovative product for Amplitude Audio. Our approach was driven by user-centered design principles and involved several iterative stages:

• Research and Discovery: To understand the product, market, target audience and their needs, we conducted extensive user research. This included user interviews, surveys, and market analysis. We interviewed audio enthusiasts, speaker experts, business owners (focus groups) and identified key pain points related to existing multiroom technology, such as complicated setups and limited compatibility.

• Ideation and Brainstorming: We organized brainstorming sessions to generate a wide range of ideas. Collaborative whiteboarding and mind mapping allowed us to explore various design directions
• UX Design:  As the UX designer on our team, I presented a range of problem-solving approaches aimed at achieving unbiased solutions. These methods included storyboarding, brainwriting, keyword ideation, and more. Our goal was not only to develop a product but to craft an entire user journey that would lead us to an ideal scenario, catering to the needs and expectations of our various stakeholders.
• Concept Development:  We took abstract ideas and user insights to forge tangible solutions. This phase allowed us to creatively bridge the gap between identifying problems and crafting user-centered solutions. We explored and refined innovative concepts, using techniques such as ideation, prototyping, and testing to ensure that our final design not only solved problems but also delivered a seamless and engaging experience that delighted our users.
  
• Integration of Multiroom Technology: We worked closely with the technical team to ensure the smooth integration of the unique multiroom technology into both the hardware and software components. Our concepts also included the best way to integrate multiroom technology and be easily communicated to the stakeholders.
• Prototyping and Testing: We developed several prototypes, culminating in a 3D printed model that replicated every detail to scale. The speaker design garnered such approval from the company '3D Machines' that they chose to showcase both our process and product in their advertising for 3D modeling services. Throughout the development journey, we analyzed and tested our prototypes, collaborating with various speaker experts to incorporate their feedback and make necessary modifications to refine our final product.
• Branding and Identity: Concurrently, our team developed the product's brand identity, reflecting Amplitude Audio's values and vision. We reflected the identity into the product, website, application, packaging, and marketing.

The Unique Technology

Cyrille Gallice, the founder of Amplitude, developed a revolutionary wireless speaker technology that relies on power lines transmitted through a building. By simply connecting the speakers to power, this innovation delivers exceptional sound quality, eliminating the need for cumbersome wiring in expansive areas, making it the product's standout feature.

Problematic

Since our aim was large scale spaces, we needed to address the diverse needs and concerns of not one but numerous stakeholders, from the initial buyer to the end customer. Additionally, we had to tackle issues related to product image and perception, as well as streamlining the installation process to ensure a seamless and efficient user experience.

Stakeholder Values

Amplitude Brand

Economical

Sustainable

Easy to Manufacture

Easy to Repair

Strong brand identity

Customer Reach

Easy Transportation

Installers

Easy to install

Easy to Calibrate

Intuitive

Easy to Optimise

Clear Interface

Durable

Easy to Carry

Business Clients

Value for Money

Aesthetic

Fit with Space

Ease of Buying

Acoustics

Reliable

Seamless buying

Staff

Ease of Use

Clear User interface

Intuitive

Not Intrusive

Accessible

Customers

Good Sound Quality

Good Ambience

Not intrusive

Personalised

Added experience

The ideal scenario

An ideal scenario helped us ideate towards the vision experience we had for Amplitude which included:

• Building a brand DNA
• Smart installation
• Acoustic Optimisation
• Interaction with Listeners
• Sustainable Maintenance and discard

Ideation to Conceptualisation

We started with post-its, sketches, filteration of ideas through the 'can haves, should haves and must haves' method, conceptualisation, user flows, etc to reach the cmf, details and our final concept.

Application

In today's world, the easiest and fastest communication anyone can have with a product is right in their pockets. We decided to have an application for Amplitude to help with virtually understanding the product, installation, changing the settings, etc. Our chosen process:

User flows -> wireframes on paper -> hierarchy of information on low fidelity  -> high fidelity prototypes.

 aurore 

Product Story

To develop a multiple speaker system and supporting application for Amplitude Audio using their unique technology for the B2B market.

• Communication
• Installation
• Product

Curiousity move

Curiosity is a big part for any new product in the market to drive customers to buying the product experience

The User Interface

The focus behind designing the interface was transparency with the technology of the product and giving a fair chance to the customer to understand the brand before purchase

Virtual Test

Since the brand is new, before a promise to purchase, the buyer has the possibility to do a virtual test of the product in their space to see which combination suits him the most.

Easy Purchase

The shopping interface lets one choose the best speaker combination for their space.

Ready for Space

Different orientations of speakers can fill the space suiting it's needs.

Installing Guide

The Bar code behind the product packaging gives you access to a step by step installation guide for anyone to easily be able to install the speakers in their spaces without external support. After this installation, you can access your new speaker through the Ampltiude Application.

Hub Management

The hub is where the user manages all his speakers. The interface allows the users to modify the groups of speakers, see virtually what is connected to what, and manage each speaker individually.

Motion Detection

In Energy saving mode, the speakers detect motion and follow where the people go. This avoids noise pollution and electricty used.

Visual representation to save energy

The energy consumption of each speaker can be managed by motion detection and therefore, the sound will manage itself according to the crowd in a room. For each room, one can see it's current status and the energy saved using standby mode.

Product details

For distinctive sound quality and brand image, we focused on the details of the speaker.

There is a substantial amount of space around the speaker cone from the rest to optimise acoustics and avoid the vibration of the internal components.

The bottom black ring contains 4 IR or motion detection sensors that helps not only optimise the acoustics of the space but also make it extremely sustainable and cost effective.

Apart from being suspended from the ceiling the speaker can be oriented to 3 other ways.

With different CMF options each part is justified with a complimentary colour scheme

Feel free to say Hi!