The Art of Sound: Decibelist’s Unique Approach to Speaker Design
Published on August 22, 2024 | by DSGN arcHive
We sit down with Brian Ho, the founder of Decibelist, for an inside look at what sets the brand apart.
Have you ever wondered what it takes to create speakers that do more than just play music but also captivate your senses with their striking designs? Well, it all starts with a spark of curiosity. Step into the world of Decibelist, a bold Singapore homegrown brand where sound effortlessly transforms into art. Decibelist masterfully blends aesthetics with acoustics in ways you’ve probably never imagined. Their Art Speakers aren’t just products; rather, they’re a fusion of innovation and elegance, crafted to defy the ordinary. Yet, even as they push boundaries, Decibelist remains committed to sustainability and collaboration, staying at the forefront of design while holding true to their unique vision.
So, are you curious to know more? We chatted with Brian Ho, the founder of Decibelist, to explore the brand’s story. Plus, we took a closer look at some of Decibelist’s standout offerings. Scroll down for all the details.
The Story Behind Decibelist’s Artistic Soundscapes
1. Every brand has a unique origin story. Can you tell us about your journey and what sparked your passion for designing sound systems?
Truth be told, Decibelist didn’t start off as a company. When the idea of what Decibelist stands for today first emerged, the name Decibelist hadn’t even been coined yet. It was purely a passion project almost four years ago, born out of sheer curiosity. Why do speakers look the way they do? Can speakers be made differently? Can we create speakers that are boldly unconventional, sonically pleasing, and yet aesthetically captivating? That sense of curiosity and wonder sparked a passion for experimenting with the concept of reimagining music, creating and inventing speakers that are distinctly different from most we know today. Music is something that goes beyond sound; it’s something alive in our living spaces. At Decibelist, our quest was to make aesthetics come alive with music.
2. What core values and inspirations drive the visual and functional identity of your sound systems and speakers? How do these elements shape your brand’s aesthetic?
Our inspiration was to combine aesthetics and music—a delicate balance between two art forms that are so different yet so similar. That’s why we call our speakers Art Speakers, as they embody the fusion of these different art forms into a cohesive whole.
Because we set out to create speakers that are boldly unconventional, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the aesthetic concept is. We know it’s going to be different. We know it’s going to be unusual. Our speakers can take any form because that’s the very nature of the fluidity of art itself.
In terms of functionality, we like to keep things simple and minimalistic. Music should be an experience that’s convenient, easy, simple, and yet immensely enjoyable.
3. Take us behind the scenes—how does your design process evolve from an initial idea to a finished product that embodies your brand’s vision?
We like to reimagine music, often in ways that are unconventional and, at times, even ‘musically blasphemous.’ Inspiration can come from anywhere—from conversations, everyday objects, books, films, and even something as casual as a fleeting observation. No idea is ever too ridiculous or impossible. When we reimagine music, we start with the belief that everything is possible. From there, we experiment and play with those ideas. Some ideas turn into real speakers, while others don’t. That’s how some of our unique speakers came about. The ‘Brutalist Post-Modernism’ Art Speaker, inspired by 1970s brutalist architecture, is one such example. Our botanic-inspired speakers made with real moss are another.
4. Your products blend beauty with performance. How do you ensure that your brand’s signature look is never compromised by the need for functionality?
Aesthetics and sound engineering have always been a fine balancing act. Ideally, we would love to achieve both, but more often than not, that doesn’t happen. At what point do you sacrifice some sonic fidelity for better aesthetics? That’s the question we constantly face as speaker designers. A speaker needs to be musically pleasing; otherwise, it defeats the purpose of designing speakers in the first place. That’s where we draw the line in speaker design. Beyond that, anything is possible.
5. In an ever-evolving tech landscape, how does your brand stay true to its design language while embracing cutting-edge innovations?
Art Speakers aren’t the most cutting-edge around. After all, Decibelist isn’t a tech company (and was never intended to be). We make use of the latest tech that’s already out there. When it comes to tech, we don’t reinvent the wheel. However, what we do endeavour to create are speakers like none other out there.
6. Sustainability is becoming a key aspect of modern brands. How does your commitment to sustainable practices influence your design and production decisions?
For starters, most of our speakers are made-to-order in our own workshop. The nature of making uniquely personal speakers means we simply can’t—and don’t—mass produce. We only make what we need. Additionally, many of our speaker enclosures are 3D printed using sustainable materials. 3D printing itself is an additive manufacturing process, where you only use the materials you need. In additive manufacturing, very little goes to waste. In fact, it is one of the most sustainable forms of production.
7. What hurdles have you encountered while trying to align your designs with your brand’s aesthetic goals, and how have these challenges shaped your brand’s evolution?
Our approach to creating highly unusual speakers is already a huge challenge in itself. Many of the ideas we envision simply aren’t possible or would require compromises that defeat the very purpose of why we make speakers. That’s part and parcel of doing something distinctively different that challenges the norm. The brand’s evolution comes from thinking outside the box, turning the seemingly impossible into the possible.
8. Reflecting on your body of work, is there a particular project that resonates with your brand’s identity the most? What made it stand out for you?
One of the key aspects of our speaker projects is the concept of collaborating with artisans from different disciplines. Our dream was not to create a solo Singaporean brand but a collaborative one that brings various disciplines together. To date, we have worked with artists, architects, interior designers, fashion labels, illustrators, moss art designers, scent specialists, and even sustainable champions to create speaker pieces that are uniquely distinctive—some we never even thought possible. We have collaborated with architects and interior designers to create a series of architecture-inspired speakers that resemble buildings more than speakers. We also have speakers made from recycled cassette tapes and botanic-inspired speakers made from preserved moss. These projects are only possible when artisans work together. Art Speakers isn’t solely a Decibelist brand but an artisan collective, and that’s how we envision our brand growing.
For more information about Decibelist click here.
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