Hasta La Ideas

Over the next months we will be highlighting award-winning projects and ideas from this year’s Core77 Design Awards! For full details on the project, jury commenting and more information about the awards program, go to Core77DesignAwards.com

Designer: fuseproject – Yves Behar with Gabe Lamb
Location: San Francisco, California, USA
Category: Products/Equipment
Award: Notable

Jawbone JAMBOX

The JAMBOX is a revolutionary Bluetooth, wireless audio speaker and full duplex speakerphone with the latest noise-canceling Jawbone technology. A chic, portable, audio powerhouse, it is revolutionizing the Bluetooth audio speaker segment, allowing users to express themselves and their lifestyle with a compelling package of compact technology and iconic design.

We took the opportunity to rethink what an audio speaker was and should be; from aesthetics to functionality, we redesigned everything. For example, on traditional speakers, it is clearly indicated where the sound comes from, either through texture or orientation. With the JAMBOX’s innovative wrap-around grill, there is no real indication as to where the premium audio is coming from, adding to the product’s intrigue and impact.

Additionally, we wanted to differentiate the design of this from others in the category, by creating options and opportunities for a lifestyle product. Most speakers have a specific look, and a traditional monochromatic color palette. They face one direction, and aesthetically ignore the other. Not so with the Jambox. The challenge here was to break that mold, and offer a product that was iconic and innovative in ways other products don’t consider.

Core77: What’s the latest news or development with your project?

As the world’s first intelligent wireless speaker, the JAMBOX is continually evolving and getting smarter! Along with new apps and updates coming from Jawbone’s software platform, MyTalk, there are some exciting new hardware offerings as well. The Apple Edition, with a gold metal grill and grey rubber accents, is available exclusively at Apple retail locations.

What is one quick anecdote about your project?

Music is so personal for people; it is deeply connected to emotion and experience. As an outlet for that, we wanted Jambox to be equally expressive. This is what led to texturing the grill on all sides (in addition to adding structure), using color, and shockproof materials to launch with 4 Jambox versions each with their own character. But it was after the initial launch that we really started to learn how far this could go. Because you can peel off the rubber top and bottom caps off like a tupperware lid, people started to mix and match and customize their speakers, and we began to get requests for limited editions. From an extremely limited run in green for Cool Hunting, to a machined Maple wood version for Wallpaper Magazine, to a custom Gold and Charcoal edition for Apple Stores, Jambox has taken on a personality beyond the original design. We’ve seen people mount them to bikes, wear them around their necks, and in Milan earlier this year we built a roomful of furniture out of them for an exhibit we named JAMSCAPE. We have more plans for the speaker, but it’s been just as much fun to see the unplanned uses and places Jambox ends up in.

Read on for full details on the project and jury comments.

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