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KENZE

 Functional art speaker



  • Role:
    Founder / Designer / PM/engineer 
  • When:
    Dec 2023– Now
  • Focus:
    Hardware–software integration, user experience, brand ecosystem, early venture strategy
  • Tools:
    Fusion 360
    Shaper3D
    KeyShot 
    FDM 3D printing, Figma


    • Overview:
    KENZE is a toy speaker ecosystem that transforms music playback into emotional expression, blending hardware, cultural storytelling, and a companion app to reimagine how people connect with sound.
    "Facial transformation" in Sichuan opera means a character's mood change; it can also represent taking off the hypocritical mask and revealing the most authentic and emotional self;






    Problem & Opportunity
    Most consumer speakers compete on sound quality and portability, leaving little space for emotional storytelling or cultural value, by creating a functional art object that feels collectible, expressive, and community-driven — bridging music, play, and identity.






    Solution Overview
    KENZE draws inspiration from Sichuan Opera’s “face changing” — where shifts in masks reflect emotional states. Translating this to hardware:

    • The speaker’s face transforms through simple tactile mechanisms.
    • A mobile app ecosystem enables music sharing, personalization, and community participation.
    • The product positions itself as both a speaker and a cultural artifact, differentiating from mass-market electronics.




    Solution Overview
    KENZE draws inspiration from Sichuan Opera’s “face changing” — where shifts in masks reflect emotional states. Translating this to hardware:

    • The speaker’s face transforms through simple tactile mechanisms.
    • A mobile app ecosystem enables music sharing, personalization, and community participation.
    • The product positions itself as both a speaker and a cultural artifact, differentiating from mass-market electronics.





    Hardware Design
    The KENZE hardware features a compact enclosure with a mechanical sliding mask activated by a side push button and press-to-activate tongue, integrating embedded drivers tuned for acoustic clarity within the small form factor.

    Through tolerance testing, the sliding components were iterated for precise fit, ensuring reliability and consistent activation, while prototyping with 3D-printed FDM shells allowed seamless integration of the micro-speaker and charging port.

    KENZE’s Circuit borad for bluetooth connection, volume control, and charging




    Ecosystem & User Experience
    The KENZE ecosystem extends beyond hardware through the KENZE Music app, which enables users to share tracks, customize speaker faces, and connect socially.

    This customization allows for personalized identity and collectibility, while a global collaboration platform invites artists to contribute face designs and music, positioning KENZE not only as a product but also as a creative medium and cultural community.













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