FLUITAPE Tape Drives

This cassette player was inspired by the flow of time in an hourglass. In the hope of awakening a deeper experience of music, its physical properties and close relationship with time are emphasised. The designers hope that by creating this player, people would be able to slow down and appreciate music while remaining present. The hourglass shape of the player was chosen to represent the passage of time. The traditional play and rewind buttons are replaced with a gravity sensor to represent the characteristics of an hourglass. The tape will start when the player is standing upright and the movement of the tape reel will be visible. To rewind the tape, turn the player over. This innovative interaction also emphasises the time-flowing element of the hourglass. Simple geometric shapes and smooth lines were used to fully demonstrate the product's inherent tension. Users can listen to music on the cassette player’s amplifier and speaker, eliminating the need for external speakers or headphones. Red Dot Award: Design Concept | Concept | Music and Media