Nostalx Sepikara by Yuqing Xiao, Menghai Xia and Siyu Zang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award in Moralo wa Disebediswa tsa Dijithale le Elektroniki Competition Category.
BoronseElektroniki ya Bareki· 2025
Nostalx Sepikara
by Yuqing Xiao, Menghai Xia and Siyu Zang
Client: Functional Form Flock Allies
Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award Winner in Elektroniki ya Bareki Category
- 50,373
- Verified Award Winner
- Verify Award Status for #164819
The Design
About Nostalx Sepikara
Nostalx ke sepikara sa Bluetooth sa mokgwa wa khale se kopanyang ho bapala 'mino le ho fumana mabatowa a maqhubu a mangata. Sistimi ya taolo e na le dikonopo tse pedi tsa ho tjhikinya, dinaba tse tharo le swiche e nang le mabaka a mangata a ho e beha. Konopo e ka letsohong le letshehadi e kgetha diteishene tsa radio, ha konopo e ka letsohong le letona e lokisa boholo ba modumo mme e tima sepikara ha e beilwe tlasetlase. Swiche e nang le mabaka a mangata e fapana pakeng tsa mekgwa ya Bluetooth, FM, AM le SW. Kharapa ya kantle e ka etswa ka polasetiki e mebala, lehong kapa acrylic e sa phatsimeng. Nostalx e nkela sebaka sa disipoleyi tsa dijithale ka ditaolo tseo o ka di utlwang ka menwana, ho theha boiphihlelo ba ho mamela bo amanang le maikutlo.
The Recognition
About the Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award
Nostalx Sepikara ke mohapi oa Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award, kananelo e hlomphehang haholo e fuoang meralo e ikhethang e tsejoang ka boqapi, bohlale ba ho qapa le bohlale. Bahapi ba Boronse ke lintho tse nang le bokhoni ka ho felletseng le boqapi bo hlollang tse tiisang boiphihlelo bo bongata, mohopolo le bokhoni ba ho iphumana ba baqapi ba tsona. Nostalx Sepikara e lebelletsoe ho ba ntho e hlomphuoang haholo, e ratoang le e ratehang, e nang le boprofeshenale bo bonahalang le mehopolo e mecha. Moralo ona o hapileng Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award o kenyelletsa mekhoa e metle ka ho fetesisa bonong, mahlaleng, moralong le theknolojing mme o hlahella ka ho tsepamisa maikutlo lintlheng tse nyenyane. Nostalx Sepikara e kutloisisa litlhoko hantle, e ama litakatso, e hapa maikutlo mme e tsosa takatso ea ho tseba.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Nostalx is a retro-style Bluetooth speaker that combines music playback with multi-band radio functionality, offering a sensory-rich experience through its tactile interface. Unlike typical digital devices, NostalX engages touch, sound, and sight, providing a more immersive and interactive listening experience. Its design encourages ritualistic physical interactions, allowing users to express their musical tastes and lifestyle in a world dominated by digital interfaces, making it truly stand out.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Weight: 537g
Length 200mm x Height 130mm x Thickness 53mm - Tags
- Speaker, Multi-band radio, Sensory interaction, Tactile design, Retro-style, Vintage aesthetics, User experience, Lifestyle product
- Production Technology
- Nostalx is a retro-style Bluetooth speaker with music playback and multi band radio functions. It features a radio component, audio speaker, rechargeable battery, and main circuit board. The control elements include two knobs, three buttons, and a multi-position push switch. The knobs are mechanically linked to the dashboard for synchronized rotation. Shell materials vary by design style, including colored plastic, wood, or frosted acrylic for a customizable appearance.
- Design Challenge
- The design of Nostalx faced challenges in integrating an interactive interface into its retro aesthetic, avoiding digital displays to enhance multi-sensory stimulation. Balancing visual appeal with technical feasibility required iterative redesigns, particularly in incorporating existing circuitry. The team worked closely with engineers to refine controls, ensuring both functionality and design cohesion. The result is an immersive, intuitive product that blends form, function, and user engagement seamlessly.
- Research
- In recent years, sales of physical music formats like vinyl and cds have surged, valued for their permanence and nostalgic appeal in a digital world. Our research shows over 45% of consumers are dissatisfied with streaming's lack of physical interaction, craving high quality sound and a multi sensory experience. Many now view music as an expression of personal taste, favoring retro designs that blend nostalgia with modernity. This shift highlights a growing demand for music players as lifestyle products, enhancing the music experience.
- Inspiration
- For music enthusiasts, streaming has diminished music's perceived value. Physical formats like vinyl are resurging due to nostalgia. Consumers now desire tangible experiences, valuing the permanence of physical objects that evoke safety in a digital world. They crave high-quality sound and sensory-rich products that reflect their tastes and lifestyles. This project transforms the music player from a functional tool to a lifestyle product, blending vintage sensory appeal with modern convenience.
- Project Duration
- The project commenced in Savannah, Georgia in September 2023, the model was completed in Savannah by November 2023.
- Operation Flow
- Nostalx features a radio assembly, audio speaker, rechargeable battery, and a main circuit board. Its control system includes two knobs, three buttons, and a multi-position push switch for seamless use. The left knob adjusts radio channels, while the right controls volume, with a power off function at minimum. The buttons handle play/pause, fast forward, and rewind. The multi position switch toggles between Bluetooth, FM, AM, and SW, blending modern technology with a nostalgic user experience.
- Team Members
- Designer: Yuqing Xiao
Designer: Siyu Zang
Designer: Menghai Xia
Designer: Weijing Zhao
Designer: Qijun Nie - Image Credits
- Pic 1 Designer Yuqing Xiao, NostalX model rendering, 2023
Pic 2 Designer Yuqing Xiao, NostalX interface introduction and model photography, 2023
Pic 3 Designer Yuqing Xiao, Explode view image of NostalX and model photography, 2023
Pic 4 Designer Yuqing Xiao, NostalX prototype model photography, 2023
Pic 5 Designer Yuqing Xiao, Multiple CMF choices of NostalX, 2023
Sponsored
Explore Beyond Designers.org
Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.
More to Explore
Related Designs
Explore more award-winning designs from the same category, selected by merit.
