Iron Audio and Sound Equipment Design · 2022

X-Boat Pro Earphones

by Yuhang Chen

A' Design Award 2022 Iron Winner in Audio and Sound Equipment Design
Awarded April 15, 2022
CLIENT: Yobybo
Estimated Number of Design Views: 14,388
Verification code F8928FFCC2 · Verify this award

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About X-Boat Pro Earphones

X-Boat Pro is a pair of wireless earphones designed to be worn with one hand. The earphones slide out along rails on the charging case, so the case does not need to be opened. Users can hold the case near the ear and push an earphone directly into place. An open, hollow form keeps the earphones visible, which helps users check their status and reduces the risk of loss. The shape is inspired by the smooth lines of lotus petals. The case is made with vacuum silver die-casting and a tempered anti-glare glass back.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: We have redefined how Bluetooth Wireless Earphones can be taken out, and the unique sliding fit is addictive. In the past, users needed to open the charging case to take out the earphones, but ours just slides out along the rails of the charging case, which can be easily worn with only one hand. The hollow design of the fuselage is convenient for users to check the status of the earphones at any time and effectively avoid loss.
Dimensions & Packaging: Length 84mm × Width 34mm × Thickness 17.5mm
Tags: TWS, Earphones, Futuristic, CMF, Glass, Open Design
Production Technology: We adopt a new vacuum silver die-casting technology to overcome the problem that the surface of die-cast aluminum alloy cannot produce a fine matte finish. We have reduced material loss by 30% while maintaining cosmetic quality. The back of the charging box adopts tempered AG glass technology, which can produce delicate light interference phenomenon.
Design Challenge: Balance of beauty and function: In order to ensure that users can wear the earphones smoothly, the shapes of the left and right earphones need to be different, but in order to ensure the visual symmetry of them when they are put back into the charging case, the shape of the earphones needs to be kept symmetrical. To this end, we made more than 20 iterative modifications to the earphone model. Production and ease of use: In order to carry it lightly, the charging case needs to be designed thin enough, we developed a unique fixture for this, and improved the metal die-casting and polishing process. Ensure that the product meets the production requirements without compromising ease of use and is environmentally friendly.
Project Duration: Project started in July 2020 in Shenzhen, China. And completed in November 2020 in Shenzhen, China
Operation Flow: Push the earphones out along the charging case. Users can put the earphones charging case close to the ear and push the earphone in with one hand to wear it, which is very convenient.
Research: Project Background: We wanted to design a comfortable earphone that the user could wear with one hand. Methods: We collected ear and finger data from more than 500 users aged 18-35, and obtained ergonomic reference data for earphone design by overlapping photographs of these individuals' ears and fingers. Using the external auditory canal and thumb as the fixed points, it is concluded that the average length of the adult external auditory cavity is 20mm, the length from the tragus to the external ear hole is 10-14mm, and the dynamic size of the finger pushing action is 16-25mm.
Inspiration: X-Boat Pro is inspired by the difficulties users encounter in using earphones on a daily basis. When the user is in a hurry, it is impossible to remove the Bluetooth earphones from the charging case with only one hand and wear it conveniently. In terms of shape, the lines formed by the wrapping of lotus petals are full and smooth, which inspired us. While exploring shape optimization to meet the needs of users to wear earphones conveniently, we applied the lotus shape to the design.