A microphone for the digital era.
Year • 2020
Role • Design Lead
Scope • Product Design, Visual Creation, Interaction Design
Project
During my agency time, we initiated an internal team project to explore a microphone designed specifically for the digital creator era. Driven by the rise of gaming and streaming, the project combined research, product design, branding, and UX/UI into a single, speculative product vision.
Challenge
The challenge was to rethink microphone interaction by solving real usage problems without adding cognitive load. We addressed the lack of directional feedback through integrated LED signals—guiding users visually to optimal speaking positions—supported by an app for fine-tuning preferences.
Ownership
Research and early design exploration were conducted collaboratively within the team. My concept was selected for further development, making me responsible for the product’s formal language, 3D construction, and visual refinement, while UX and UI were developed jointly.
Strategic Approach
The microphone was designed to feel bold, technical, and unapologetically futuristic—closer to a digital interface than a traditional audio device. Rather than blending into the environment, it was meant to signal performance, control, and presence, clearly targeting gamers and streamers who expect expressive hardware.
Concept Evaluation
Concept 01 was selected based on its stronger alignment with creator-centric use cases, future-oriented differentiation, and experience-led interaction.
Execution
The concept evolved from sketching into detailed visual exploration using Photoshop, followed by 3D modeling, prototyping and rendering.
Visual Creation
Smart Audio Indication
Mute by touching the top. In addition, the microphone detects the direction from which the voice is coming and indicates whether the audio quality is adequate by changing color.
Fully functional Prototype
UI concepts were developed in Figma, while a physical prototype - with LEDs, motherboard, and touch interaction - was built to validate the interaction logic with developers.
Impact & Outcome
The project resulted in a fully functional prototype that combined visual feedback, interaction design, and expressive form into a cohesive product concept. It received a design award and demonstrated how hardware and UX can merge into an emotionally driven creator tool.
Learnings
Emotional design can actively improve usability when it delivers immediate, intuitive feedback. Strong product concepts emerge from the intersection of design research, interaction thinking, and the courage to challenge established hardware conventions.
Visual Creation
Interaction Desing
Trend Research