DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
: We wanted to create new visual language which would be recognizable and readable and on the other hand completely different and new. It was a special challenge because it was to be done for a product that belongs to a very strict market segment. This strictness is reflected in standard materials, manufacturing processes and techniques, and which is regarded as rigid norms and patterns upon which quality is recognized by audiophiles and music lovers.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
: Special challenge was to design a new visual language for a product that belongs to a very strict market segment. This strictness is reflected in standard materials, manufacturing processes and techniques, and which is regarded as rigid norms and patterns upon which quality is recognized by audiophiles and music lovers. On one hand Nikola wanted that visual language to be recognizable and readable and on the other completely different and new.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
: A design award is an excellent marketing tool and it will certainly help in promoting the product.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
: six months
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
: Galleon is top grade integral amplifier designed by Nikola Knezevic. It was conceived and manufactured with excellent and extraordinary quality and strength in mind. Special challenge was to design a new visual language for a product that belongs to a very strict market segment with firmly set formal norms. Design commisioned.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
: Design is intended to be produced by Nikoladesign in collaboration with Korato Company.
DI: What made you design this particular type of work?
: This strictness of the market segment, reflected in standard materials, manufacturing processes and techniques, and which is regarded as rigid norms and patterns upon which quality is recognized by audiophiles and music lovers, was a challenge for us. On one hand Nikola wanted new visual language to be recognizable and readable and on the other completely different and new.
Each element was designed to be unique, curved front panel, reflecting top plate, stand instead of feet, color, everything was made in order to break common norms and rules and to produce unique and extraordinary product.
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
: Not particularly.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
: Audiophiles.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
: Each element was designed to be unique, curved front panel, reflecting top plate, stand instead of feet, color, everything was made in order to break common norms and rules and to produce unique and extraordinary product.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
: A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Galleon is to serve as a flagship of Korato fleet, to set the rule both for quality and new form.
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
: All standard ones: traditional sketching, clay modeling, model making and testing, computer modeling and CNC milling.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
: Each element was designed to be unique, curved front panel, reflecting top plate, stand instead of feet, color, everything was made in order to break common norms and rules and to produce unique and extraordinary product.
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
: Korato team of top notch technicians
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
: Particular forms and placent of components would not be possible without most up to date technology which provided fast and acurate testing.
DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
: After several months of research, forming and testing, new prototype of Korato tube audio amplifier was published. Galleon is top grade integral amplifier designed by Nikola Knezevic. It was conceived and manufactured with excellent and extraordinary quality and strength in mind. Special challenge was to design a new visual language for a product that belongs to a very strict market segment. This strictness is reflected in standard materials, manufacturing processes and techniques, and which is regarded as rigid norms and patterns upon which quality is recognized by audiophiles and music lovers. On one hand I wanted that visual language to be recognizable and readable and on the other completely different and new. A market research had to be conducted in order to identify most common rules and norms.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
: Special challenge was to design a new visual language for a product that belongs to a very strict market segment. This strictness is reflected in standard materials, manufacturing processes and techniques, and which is regarded as rigid norms and patterns upon which quality is recognized by audiophiles and music lovers. On one hand Nikola wanted that visual language to be recognizable and readable and on the other completely different and new.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
: Good and persistant marketing.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
: In order this product to be finished we had to master new technlogies and to accept new ways of thinking. This is crucial to be able adopt to every new project and challange it imposes.