SOUND, VISION & STYLE Design Trends 2025
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Sound, vision & style
Sound,
vision & style
Helping customers visualise how a product fits into their lifestyle, and their living room, is key to closing the deal. Steve May spotlights the CE brands using design to get ahead of the competition.
fashionably minimalist or just plain artful, the way a product looks is crucial when it comes to persuading consumers to part with their hard- earned cash.
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Think audio speakers that double as objet d’art, and projectors that integrate with, rather than dominate, the living space.
Few Hi-Fi brands blend design and sound quite so stylishly as Bang & Olufsen. The Danish luxury audio powerhouse continues to elevate the concept of AV as a lifestyle centerpiece. Witness the brand’s presence at Milan Design Week, where it partnered with Italian natural
s the lines between technology and lifestyle blur, it’s increasingly clear that form no longer plays second fiddle to function. Whether retro-inflected,
stone specialist Antolini, to reinforce the message that audio gear can be as visually compelling as sculpture. The brand showcased a remarkable range of customised sound pieces under its Atelier Bespoke initiative. Centrestage was the Beosound Balance Natura speaker, crafted from Antolini quartz, but also turning heads were the high-end Beolab 28 speakers and a Beovision Theatre 55-inch TV, all finished in rare Amazonite quartzite.
While these Atelier pieces are strictly limited, just 16 Balance Natura speakers exist, they underscore the brand’s commitment to aesthetics.
And then there’s the Beosound A9, perhaps
B&O’s most iconic, current, product. This circular active speaker is a head turner in its own right, and no slouch when it comes to performance; under the hood there are seven custom-built drivers capable of room-filling, Bluetooth streamed sound.
But the brand continues to keep the model
fresh through associations and partnerships. Most recently, the A9 has been reimagined via a limited-edition collaboration with photographer
Denis O’Regan. A run of 30 units has been blessed with a canvas cover featuring a rare image of David Bowie, an icon in his own right, along with a signed and numbered print, and a certificate of authenticity. At £3,995, this particular A9 isn’t just a high-end speaker, as a rock ‘n’ roll collector’s item.
At the other end of the price spectrum, LG is on a similar wavelength. Even in the ubiquitous world of wireless speakers, sound quality matters, but style stands out. LG’s 2025 XBOOM range clearly understand the assignment. This affordable trio of portable Bluetooth boxes, the Bounce, Grab, and Stage 301, have been crafted to appeal to Gen Z and millennial listeners, with bright accents, and durability- focused design. The perfect shelf candy for young, style-conscious buyers.
Not only is the design DNA unmistakably
modern, it’s supported by an A-list endorsement. Multi-platinum artist and tech aficionado
Will.i.am has lent his expertise to the sound tuning, and his name to marketing. At retail level, the story is compelling. LG’s approach to XBOOM is a great example of design inspiration that feels truly organic.
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