Headphones for emerging markets
Services
- Aesthetic refinement
- 3D modelling
- Concept generation
- Concept development & system architecture
Sector
- consumer
Client
Keep™ needed to expand its range of headphones to maintain its position as a market leader.
OPD were tasked with bringing a new visual design language and improved usability to drive brand growth in Keep's core markets.
At the start the range was aimed at growing their core segment within the key demographic, but it was apparent in our workshops that there was an unmet opportunity to expand the brand's appeal beyond its core users, improve useability, comfort, robustness and foster broader global appeal.
We know from experience that our most successful projects stem from a close collaborative approach with our clients. Regular check-ins and sanity checks with both the brand and their end users are critical no matter what product category or territory you are serving.
With a client based in China and our design team in Oxford a collaborative design process seems on the face of it challenging at best.
But through a series of regular video call meetings, online workshops and the use of localised communication methods we were not only able to communicate effectively but facilitate an environments of shared development and rapid feedback.
As the co-development process progressed it was clear that a simple refresh of their existing range was not going to hold up to consumer scrutiny and would not give an edge over growing competition.
The design brief was reworked, and the scope expanded to broaden the target demographic and the number of deliverables.
The end result: a range of two headphones with distinctive aesthetics that share a new common mechanical pivot mechanism improving on both the products visual appeal but also comfort.
