Yamaha ELA-1 Electone.
2022 | my.yamaha.com
Goal: Design an accessible, entertainment Electone model
Role: Lead Designer
Concept: Theatrical Full Body Entertainment
Keywords: Energetic, Approachable, Promising
Photography: YMW, M.Perry
The Electone is an instrument to be played live, an instrument with a great Theatrical Sense. For the player it is just like playing an entire band all by himself with the focus being on the player’s performance with his full body. The usual ways of performing and the difference environments where the Electone is usually placed can dramatically change how this theatrical performance is seen or perceived.
In the ELA-1 model the achieved solution is one that brings a sense of solidity and confidence to the performer, with it’s strong stance and an enhanced display of the performance for the audience to enjoy.
Such a challenging project and products demands and stimulates creativity and the explorations of form and shapes to meet the requirements. Many ideas were put on paper exploring what our concept means, visually, until I found the favourites to take to the next step.
Concept Ideation.
Solutions need to be tested and endless mockup iterations were made to help me weed out what works best and which direction I wanted to go. Using Foam Mockups, with growing levels of detail, to working prototypes, the process was long but the desired solution was found, in the form of the ELA-1.
Search for the ideal Solution.
This concept and project required every aspect to be considered and designed to convey the message of this product. Together with the design of the keyboard and all parts of the kit (bench, stand, knobs, pedal keyboard), I wanted to dive into the design of the UI to be able to provide a complete, connected experience to the user.
Designing the Full Experience.
Art Direction.
We can’t just release a product without the proper Marketing tools, and so I joined the team preparing these tools to give some art direction and input on how to better express the concept.