Where Music Rests
February - April 2023
Individual Project · Bachelor Level · Industrial Design Engineering
Course: Design & Styling
This course focused on the role of styling in product design, looking beyond technical requirements to include social and cultural parameters. Through iterative sketching and a step-by-step translation model, we explored different ways of turning inspiration sources into concrete product styling, ranging from direct style references to more abstract metaphor-based design. The emphasis was not on perfectly presented drawings, but on using sketching as a tool to explore, test, and refine the form language.
The project began with an exploratory phase focused on understanding my personal identity as a starting point for design. Through tools such as persona building, Ikigai mapping, and visual explorations like moodboards and style collages, I translated abstract qualities such as values, interests, and emotions into concrete design directions.
Design Vision
Based on the initial explorations, a clear design vision was defined to guide the development of the concept. I wished to create...
An elegant and harmonious yet overwhelming design, containing details that reflect its purpose. It should convey different emotions and highlight the transition, evoking curiosity. Eye-catching yet intangible, not fully comprehensible.
Metaphors, Inspiration & Ideation
To develop the concept, I used metaphors, inspiration, and sketching together as a way to explore form and meaning. Ideas like a hurricane and a black cat helped capture a sense of movement, unpredictability, and strength, shaping the overall feeling of the design. I also looked at musical elements, especially the curves and proportions of the cello and shapes of musical notes, which influenced the flowing and harmonious form language. Through lots of quick, iterative sketches, these ideas were explored and gradually turned into more defined concepts.
Concept Development
From the ideation process, three main concepts were developed, each exploring a different interpretation of form and meaning. The first concept focused on a more structured and space-efficient holder, inspired by musical clefs and combining lightness with stability. The second concept took a more emotional approach, with a form that feels like a person bending over and embracing the cello, expressing care and protection. The third concept was more open and dynamic, resembling a hand offering a service, with a lighter and more expressive character.
The final concept is a combination of the second and third ideas, bringing together a sense of care and openness. It captures both the emotional connection and the functional aspect of the object, resulting in a balanced design that feels supportive, expressive, and harmonious.
Colour, Detail & CMF Development
Colour and material explorations helped refine the concept through a colour collage, colour analysis, and detail collage. The colour palette focused mainly on neutral grey tones to create a calm and elegant look, combined with deeper accents like wine red and indigo to highlight the interior and create contrast. This contrast also emphasised the relationship between the strong outer structure and the softer, more protective inside. At the same time, the detail collage informed smaller design decisions such as curvature, openings, and functional elements like the bow holder and supporting surfaces, helping translate the overall vision into more concrete and cohesive design features.
Final Design
The final design is a sculptural cello holder that combines functionality with emotional expression. The form brings together two gestures: one side feels like a figure gently holding and protecting the cello, while the other feels more open, almost like an act of offering or support. This duality creates a balanced design that reflects both care and service, which are central to the concept.
The flowing curves are inspired by the geometry of the cello and musical notation, giving the object a sense of movement and harmony even when it is still. Practical elements are integrated into the form, including a dedicated spot for the bow and a small surface for additional items like sheet music. The model was realised in foam to explore the proportions and physical presence of the design, allowing the form to be experienced
Reflection
This project made me realise how personal design can be when it starts from your own experiences and values. Translating abstract ideas like emotions, personality, and memories into a physical object was both interesting and challenging, especially when trying to balance expression with functionality. I learned how tools like metaphors, moodboards, and iterative sketching can help give direction to something that initially feels very intangible. It also pushed me to trust my intuition more during the design process, rather than focusing only on logic or technical aspects. Overall, it strengthened my interest in creating designs that are not only functional but also meaningful and emotionally engaging.