As a designer, I know there are many business owners out there very fond of doing their own work when it comes to naming, logos and industrial design. I hope I'm not too forward here, but I understand the necessity and impact of great design. You can charge more, owner pride...think Apple; nobody does it better. Often we spend more just for the look!
Kinda OT, but I just had to jump into the design discussion. I, too, have a background in the visual arts (MFA photography, Rhode Island School of Design).
According to my visually educated (ahem, ahem
) but non-industrial design educated way of thinking, good design stems from intangibles that transcend the mere function of the object. Think of what Apple's designs evoke - modern, clean, slick, future-looking, youthful. The Mac and PC perform essentially the same function, but think about how Apple is playing it's youthful, hip cache against the PC's geeky, tech-nerd image in its latest ad campaign. Think about how the Lyra Connoisseur preamp uses finely crafted wood and finely crafted dials to evoke fine, master-grade antique instruments. And how Peter Daniel named his amp the Patek and crafted it to mimic the fine workmanship of Patek watches. And how the 47 Labs Gaincard uses minimalist lines and proportions to evoke the calm, tranquil feel of Zen and simple, clean Japanese minimalism.
So as a starting point, a good question to ask is "What do I want my preamp to evoke? How do I want people to feel and what do I want them to think when they look at it? What materials and combinations of materials can I use to create that look and feeling? What proportions can I use to achieve that look and feeling? What detailing and design flourishes can I use to achieve/support that look and feeling? And so on...
I have a friend who's a designer in the clothing industry, and she uses something called concept boards to figure out this very thing. She'll paste together images from magazines, bits of cloth or other materials, color swatches, etc., all for the purpose of creating a cohesive, unified concept that unites color, feeling, associations, et al. If this concept is strong enough, it can then become the basis for an entire season's clothing line.
Anyway, just a few thoughts from me on the subject. BTW, did you know that John Devore of Devore Audio (loudspeakers) has a BFA in graphic design from the Rhode Island School of Design? Cool. It's kinda neat to see how people are blending the two disciplines, visual arts and audio, to create really nice gear.
I really like how the TVC is constantly evolving and I really like the statement preamp with the waxed wood and dual-mono volume and single source selector with ebony knobs. To my eye, that's the most appealing model so far. I feel that a lot of steel chassis look a bit too "off the shelf," and I feel the stainless steel case looks that way. Visually, I definitely prefer the waxed wood case with the three ebony knobs.
I wonder if that isn't why the 6moons preview got pulled - because the model they received wasn't up to the latest technical specs.
I love what you've started here, Nick - really affordable, great sounding gear. Had I not purchased a pair of S&B TX-102s a few years back, I'd also be waiting in line for my own Promethius TVC. Keep up the good work!
Best,
KT
