RODEO: boosted series
Product Design/Branding/Marketing
RODEO: boosted series was a design exercise in speculative narrative. Given products that exist now and emerging technology, this design questions what could exist in the future.
RODEO: boosted takes an electric bass a step further with the full production, mixing, playing, and amplifying processes all put into one instrument! Paired with VR compatible RODEO wrasslers, playing becomes performing with custom avitars.
RODEO: boosted takes an electric bass a step further with the full production, mixing, playing, and amplifying processes all put into one instrument! Paired with VR compatible RODEO wrasslers, playing becomes performing with custom avitars.
The Process
RESEARCH
The idea originated in a very simple form: combining a bass with the amp to make a compact and portable performing instrument.
When first thinking about how to convert an at least semi-acoustic instrument into a wholly electric one, I looked to some synthesizers. In addition to synths, I looked into motion sensored accessories that can be used to create and mix music. By combining these aspects of hardware and software, the issue of space could be resolved by allowing the instrument body to be the amp.
The idea originated in a very simple form: combining a bass with the amp to make a compact and portable performing instrument.
When first thinking about how to convert an at least semi-acoustic instrument into a wholly electric one, I looked to some synthesizers. In addition to synths, I looked into motion sensored accessories that can be used to create and mix music. By combining these aspects of hardware and software, the issue of space could be resolved by allowing the instrument body to be the amp.
A big precedent was Imogen Heap’s Mi.Mu gloves. The gloves are open source programmable tools that can be used to mix music live in ways that would typically only be done in post-production. Rigged up with a gyroscope, accelerometer, and related motion tracking technology, these gloves can accurately process precise hand movements and translate that into a musical input.
The study on the left diagrammed Imogen Heap’s personal gesture settings, though other gestures can be saved and assigned.![]()
The study on the left diagrammed Imogen Heap’s personal gesture settings, though other gestures can be saved and assigned.
PRODUCT
BRAND
