Ivan Gu
Industrial Designer + Product Innovation
Where ideas take shape.
Interactive Audio & Lighting
PANDOO
2025
THE OPPORTUNITY
Most portable speakers are designed as passive objects — placed on a surface, played, and largely left untouched. Pandoo explores how sound, light, and physical movement can turn a familiar speaker into a more playful and engaging part of everyday life.
Listen
Immersive sound in a compact form, designed to feel present without defining a fixed front.
Move
A weighted, self-righting body turns a simple push or tilt into a playful physical interaction.
Glow
Soft ambient light allowing the speaker to shift with mood and environment.
PANDA-INSPIRED SIMPLICITY
Pandoo draws inspiration from the friendly, rounded character of a panda, using soft proportions and a minimal visual language to create an approachable presence. The simplified form avoids unnecessary details, allowing the speaker to feel playful and expressive without becoming overly toy-like.
LIGHT AS EXPRESSION
Soft ambient lighting gives Pandoo a more expressive presence, shifting its character from quiet and minimal when off to warm and playful when illuminated. The diffused glow adds atmosphere without overpowering the simplicity of the form.
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Tactile Control Pods
Panda-ear-inspired controls for audio and lighting.
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USB-C Charging Module
Integrated charging interface for power input.
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Diffuser Dome
Frosted inner shell softens and distributes light evenly.
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Steel Counterweight
Low-mounted mass enables Pandoo’s self-righting motion.
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LED Support Frame
Supports the internal LED system beneath the diffuser.
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Perforated Acoustic Housing
Rigid lower shell protects components while allowing sound transmission.
