Yan Chen


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VinylMod



Type



Industrial Design



Role



Research

Ideation



Collaborators



Alexander Facey

Menglin Ye

Zheyuan Zhang



Research Concept Development Outcome



Year



2017


TIME

1 week



VinylMod is a next-generation, modular record player that allows audiophiles to continuously upgrade their listening experience.

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Design process



Deconstructing the record player physically and conceptually



What place does analogue have in a digital future?


Charged with re-designing the record player to deliver the same technical function with improved experience, we began by mapping a person's experience from unpacking to setup to potential maintenance and disposal, taking into consideration the ergonomics, cost, sustainability, aesthetics, and the technical, emotional, and aspirational functions of the product.





Rapid ideation generating piles of concepts



We interviewed owners of record players and vinyls to learn what it means to them, and what they associate with the experience. Other than the obvious (a more tactile enjoyment of music and sound), it also meant a certain lifestyle and status.


People associated it with whiskey and cigars, James Dean and the Beatles, and an old-school, anti-establishment vibe. They loved the scratchiness of the acoustics and the tactile nature of taking a vinyl out of its sleeve, placing it onto the turntable, and moving the stylus to begin playing music.


However, the cost of a record player varies greatly (the cheapest can cost under $50, and the most expensive $650,000) and the acoustic quality corresponds to the price.





Outcome



Breaking down key components to create a modular concept



In redesigning the record player, we centered on the audiophile's journey through life. For example, if someone begins their vinyl journey in college, they may purchase a $50 player that matches the decor of their dorm. As their appreciation for music becomes more refined and their financial situations improve, they will want to upgrade to better systems. The player that matched their college dorm may no longer match the decor of subsequent living environments.


Currently, the record player comes as a complete product, requiring the user to dispose of it in its entirety, and users are only able to upgrade when they can afford the next best thing in its entirety.


What if audiophiles could continuously upgrade to better components with a modular record player where each key component is exchangeable?





Modular vinyl players to evolve with the audiophile's situation and preferences



Modular vinyl players could also connect to each other for an extended experience.





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