Nomad.Go - Portable Outdoor Speaker | Process

A rugged portable speaker concept focused on outdoor use, durability, and intuitive controls. Developed through sketching, CAD modeling, and refined CMF decisions.

Jump to section:

User/Context
Concept Exploration
Final Outcome
Design Opportunity
Decision Making
Project Reflection

Design Opportunity

Create a unique portable, outdoor speaker design that produces great sound, has personality, and can withstand the elements.

Many outdoor speakers on the market share similar characteristics, so there is opportunity for unique, playful variation that caters to the needs of a new target audience.

User / Context

Gaining understanding

Discovering the desired context, feel, and tone of the concept

  • Organic?

  • Playful?

  • Utilitarian?

  • Traditional?

Early ideation

Quick & loose ideation to get ideas flowing.

Focus on organic forms.

Context forming

  • Hiking / general outdoor adventure

  • Strapped to backpacks/clothes

  • Used for function and/or fashion

  • Rugged environments

Who are the Users?

  • Hikers / campers / outdoor explorers

  • Music lovers

  • Nature lovers

  • Wide age range (18-65)

  • Quality Appreciators

Understanding the User

What do they want/need in a speaker?

  • Fair pricing

  • Portability

  • Audio quality

  • Durability & Longevity

  • Sustainability

  • Nostalgia

  • Modern Technology

  • Personality

  • Satisfying to use/hold

Concept exploration

Speaker Research

Researching internal speaker components

  • Necessary Components

  • How does it all fit together?

  • Where do components sit within the device?

Rough Ideation

Exploring form with quick thumbnail sketches - focus on simplicity and reinventing classic speaker forms.

Diving Deeper

Taking aspects of thumbnail sketches and diving deeper with intentionality - exploring:

  • Grill shapes

  • Buttons and knob placements

  • Portability & “strapping” capabilities

Thinking about Color

Drawing color palette inspiration from natural organisms

Goal: eye-catching elements that reflect the natural world

  • Butterfly wings

  • Focusing on contrast

  • Combinations that exist in nature

  • Exploring natural shimmer & lustre

Texture & Form Exploration

Looking for inspiration for the speaker grill & grip textures

Goal: functional elements that blend with the natural surroundings

  • Retro ergonomic inspiration

  • Replicating patterns found in nature (if it ain’t broke - don’t fix it)

  • Drawing from a wide variety of organisms

Glimmer of a Concept

Beginnings of the final concept - still working with basic thumbnails with focus on a rounded square form featuring a volume knob & handle.

First Concept Iteration

Focus on a functional, customizable, design that reuses classic elements (volume knob) and plays with new ideas (bungee cord strap system).

Breakdown Highlights

  • Recycled materials (sustainable)

  • Volume knob - easy to use without looking/on the go (usability)

  • Rope System - functional w/ utilitarian look (portability)

Feedback

  • Focus on internal construction - how does it all come together?

  • Simplify the strap system

  • Decide on button placements

  • Think more about durability

Considering Feedback

  • Redesign body - add boxy & rugged elements

  • Simplified strapping - one handle is sufficient

  • Button placement ideation

Decision Making

Nearing Final Concept

Final Concept: Pre-CAD

  • Butterfly-inspired color palette

  • Rugged desert Inspiration

  • Functional

  • Vibrant

Internal Planning

Preparing for CAD development, deciding on placement of internal components.

Concept Breakdown

Researching CAD Development for Manufacturing

Early CAD Assembly

Final Outcome

Final Speaker Concept

This portable speaker is an amazing solution for those who adventure. The intentional design keeps the user at its core.

  • Boxy form communicates the speaker’s durability, and mimics the natural surroundings

  • Vibrant, customizable colors, sustainable materials, and natural inspiration provides the user with a device that reflects their unique personality.

  • Stainless steel and silicone communicates a classic and utilitarian fee

  • Excellent audio quality and an intuitive user interface

Further Documentation

Mountain-inspired silicone overmolding for durability & feel.

CAD Drawings - Final Concept

Final Notes on CAD design

Project Reflection

What I learned

  • I am motivated by a challenge

    • this project was daunting at first, but I had lots of fun expanding my SolidWorks skills and practicing thorough design process

  • The inner-workings of a speaker & the beginnings of understanding design for electronic housing

  • A good foundation (understanding the users, context, design problem) is crucial for easier ideation & process, and allows for the creation of genuinely valuable design

Project Constraints

  • 10 week timeframe - alongside other projects

  • Before starting - Minimal baseline knowledge of electronics or CAD development for manufacturing

  • Speaker fit under 10x10x10in size limit

If I had more time, I would…

  • Continue to ideate and develop the design- explore some of my more unique ideas (bespoke natural grip textures and rope bungee system)

  • Dive deeper into researching electrical housing & part assembly and create further CAD iterations that align more with professional manufacturing standards

  • Create a physical prototype to inform further ideation

  • Conduct user testing and continue to develop based on feedback