Speculative design
CUFFED
This diagram is a detailed sketch of the product's (gold colorway) intended orientation. The sketch provides detailed notes about the product alongside the ear model, suggesting the size/scale.
Personal/cultural context
As an avid Apple user, I've been able to adapt and understand the functionalities of their different products. Ever since I purchased the first generation of Apple Airpods, I have struggled with the inconvenience of this product slipping out of my small-shaped ears. You'd think that the defect would improve with further revisions and updated models. Unfortunately, I've continued to have the same experience, even with the more modern version of the Apple AirPods Pro. In relation to jewelry, my family culture has always worn ear cuffs; some passed down to generations for family members to wear. As an admirer of jewelry, coupled with representing my family culture, I enjoy wearing ear cuffs daily to decorate the exterior of my ears. The duality of my Apple AirPods Pro and the ear cuffs enabled me to envision the beginnings of CUFFED through multiple consumer market lenses.
Project Details
The CUFFED jewelry attachment for the Apple AirPods Pro is 1.25”x0.85”x0.85.” The CUFFED piece will come in three colorways, gold, and silver, to match with other jewelry and a clear option to offer a more sleek and discrete aesthetic. The materials consist of a silicon lining on the inside portion of the CUFFED piece to fit and attach to the Apple AirPods Pro properly. The gold option utilizes copper, the silver utilizes sterling silver, and the clear utilizes recycled plastic. The choice of materials is to go a more environmentally and budget-friendly route. The gold colorway costs twelve dollars, the sterling silver colorway costs fifteen dollars, and the plastic colorway costs nine dollars. The CUFFED earpiece line is easy to attach to the Apple AirPods Pro and can slightly manipulate the material to adapt to one’s ear.
Purpose & Importance
This project, CUFFED, is necessary and important because not only does this product serve as a fashionable statement piece to elevate one's jewelry collection, but it also encapsulates the functionality of resolving an everlasting problem for a handful of consumers. The design explores multiple ideas in one product: exploring functionality and aesthetics through the intersection of jewelry and technology. There is a constant need to create and elevate existing innovations, such as Apple AirPods Pro and ear cuffs, and ultimately, CUFFED would fulfill that desire. Not only does CUFFED prioritize its product, but it's also a mission-driven company. Ten percent of the revenue each month will go directly to nonprofit organizations like Aid The Silent, which deals with individuals who have hearing loss and cannot experience the full potential of CUFFED.
Aside from partnering with nonprofit organizations, this product is open to all consumers on a broader scale but specifically intended for Apple users who have purchased Apple AirPods Pro and like to wear jewelry. CUFFED products' would be located in retail stores such as Target, Walmart, and Claire's and appear on websites like Amazon. The goal is to have CUFFED in established areas to gain the most exposure to our product. A factory that partners with similar products, such as earrings and traditional ear cuffs, would build CUFFED products so the factory has some familiarity with the design and materials. CUFFED serves as a double entendre as it not only alludes to the ear cuffs but also the security and durability of the attachable piece, ensuring that your Apple AirPods won't fall out.