Statement acoustic product design: bespoke elements for design-led spaces

Statement acoustic product design: sculptural folded acoustic pendant suspended in a double-height lobby

Sometimes the right acoustic product does not exist yet. The form, finish, scale or performance a space needs is not available off the shelf, and a standard panel would compromise the design. In those cases we design it.

Statement product design is the design of one-off or limited-run acoustic products and elements for specialist and high-design projects. Form, material and acoustic performance are developed together, so the element is as considered as the interior around it and does real acoustic work in the room.

When standard products are not enough

  • The geometry is unusual. Curved, folded, very large or very small elements that standard ranges cannot provide.
  • The finish is specific. A material, colour or texture chosen for the interior that is not offered with acoustic performance.
  • The element is a feature. A suspended sculpture, a wall or ceiling installation, or a piece of joinery meant to be seen.
  • The performance is demanding. The room needs more absorption, or absorption in a different frequency range, than a decorative product can deliver.

Performance designed in, not added on

A bespoke acoustic panel or baffle only works if its performance is designed alongside its form. We consider material, thickness, depth, perforation and coverage, and predict how the element will affect the room using the project's targets, for example sound absorption to ISO 354 and room acoustic parameters to ISO 3382. Acoustic modelling and simulation shows how the element changes the space before it is made. Relevant product safety and fire standards are considered from the start, not resolved at the end.

How we work

  1. Brief. We develop the brief with the design team: what the element must look like and what it must do acoustically.
  2. Concept design. Form, material and performance options for the acoustic element.
  3. Detailed design and prediction. Details, materials and predicted acoustic performance, coordinated with the interior.
  4. Fabrication and testing. We liaise with fabricators and, where needed, arrange prototype testing to confirm performance before production.

Who it is for

Architects and interior designers on design-led projects, and makers who want an acoustic dimension in a piece they are developing. It sits naturally within our architectural acoustics work, where we specify market products with precision and design alternatives only when the market does not offer the right answer.

Frequently asked questions

Are bespoke acoustic panels as effective as standard products? They can be, when performance is designed in. Absorption depends on material, thickness, depth behind the element and how much of the room it covers. We predict performance at design stage and, where needed, confirm it with prototype testing.

Do you make the products? We design them and work with fabricators to make them. That keeps our advice independent of any one manufacturer.

What about fire performance? Fire and product safety requirements are part of the brief from the start. Materials and finishes are chosen with them in mind and confirmed with evidence from the fabricator or material supplier.

Can a bespoke element replace other acoustic treatment in the room? Often it can carry a large part of it. We assess the whole room so the element and any other finishes together meet the acoustic criteria.

Related services

Start with the brief

Tell us about the space, the design idea and what the element needs to do. Get in touch, call 020 3949 1597 or email hello@auris-consultancy.com.

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