These designers have made Bang & Olufsen famous.

Surprisingly, a little-known fact is that a renowned design company like Bang & Olufsen doesn't employ any designers. All of its famous designers work with B&O as freelance designers. The advantage of freelance designers is that they see the world through a very different lens; their perspectives always bring fresh, bold, and challenging ideas. It is they who have contributed to the enduring success of this prestigious brand, and they continue to build upon that legacy.

Beovision Eclipse & Beolab 50 photo

Jacob Jensen – the philosophy of minimalist design

Photo of Jacob Jensen – (1926-2015)

Jacob Jensen was a great Danish industrial designer who pursued a minimalist style. With 234 designs and 27 years of collaboration with B&O, it's no exaggeration to say his name is synonymous with classic designs for the brand. Many of his designs are still on display at the MOMA (Museum of Design) in New York, USA. His 1978 solo exhibition at MOMA, "Jacob Jensen and Sound Designs," showcased 28 of the best B&O products he had designed. This exhibition was a dream for any industrial designer worldwide and a recognition by the global industrial design industry for both Jensen and the B&O brand.

Jensen was also the person who shaped the fundamental philosophy behind the renowned B&O brand. These are products that embody Danish characteristics, harmoniously combining sound quality with minimalist design, emphasizing refined styling on premium materials. More than just audio-visual products, for Jensen, each B&O creation embodies the soul of the Scandinavian people with their harmonious and balanced lifestyle. This philosophy continues to inspire successive generations of B&O professionals.

Jensen's most iconic products with B&O include the Beogram 4000 and Beocenter 9000 – a design he created with his son Timothy Jacob Jensen, which many consider a masterpiece.

Beocenter 9000 product – (1986-1990)

David Lewis – a product of the future

Photo by David Lewis – (1939-2001)

Following in the footsteps of Jacob Jensen, David Lewis not only successfully inherited B&O's sophisticated minimalist design philosophy but also developed it to a new level. He transformed B&O products into classics, market-oriented designs, products of the future, rather than chasing the constant technological competition like other brands. Therefore, the value of the products does not fade over time. In fact, many customers worldwide continue to use B&O products for 20-30 years, cherishing them as favorite decor items in their homes. The average product lifespan of B&O products in general is 10-15 years, which is surprising, especially for a technology product.

Among the many classic B&O products associated with the name of David Lewis, we cannot fail to mention the Beolab 4000 and Beolab 5. The first difference in the Beolab 5 is its unique conical design. This was David Lewis's attempt to bring listeners a groundbreaking musical experience. The company discontinued this product in 2017, almost 15 years after its launch, but the conical design of the Beolab 5 still retains its value, from sound quality to style and high-quality materials. Instead of trying to hide it like other audio equipment, you can proudly display the Beolab 5 in the most prominent position in your room, allowing it to blend in and elevate your home's interior design.

Image 5: Beolab 5 Image

Cecilie Manz – User-Centered Design

Designer Cecilie Manz - (1972)

Cecilie Manz is a talented young face associated with B&O Play personal products, catering to the dynamic lifestyle and increasing user experience trends, especially among modern youth. Each BeoPlay A1, A2, or P2 portable speaker is not only a high-end audio device but also a stylish accessory that complements the user's style and is a companion on every journey, enhancing every emotional moment. For her, product quality and functionality are the goals, while design is the tool to celebrate and achieve those goals. The distinctive B&O spirit is perfectly expressed through the simple yet sophisticated style in her creations.

There's an interesting story about the BeoPlay A1 product launch: A representative from Bang & Olufsen played a piece of music using a hidden speaker covered in velvet. Everyone was amazed by the powerful, resonant, yet warm sound emanating from it. Guests guessed it was a large, angular speaker. But everyone was completely surprised when the cover was removed, revealing that the powerful sound was coming from the incredibly small BeoPlay A1 speaker, which could fit in the palm of your hand.

The Beo Play A1 portable speaker was designed by Cecilie Manz.

Øivind Slaatto

Originally a designer inspired by nature, Øivind Slaatto always surprises enthusiasts with his products because they harmonize with any interior space and perfectly convey his design philosophy that "no one will know it's a speaker until the music starts playing."

Products created by this talented designer include the BeoPlay A9, which has captivated countless customers, and most recently, the BeoSound Shape wireless speaker system. The design story of the BeoSound Shape is also fascinating. One day, Øivind shared with B&O's R&D team that he wanted to create in a space filled with music but without being too "noisy." The R&D team members and Øivind enthusiastically discussed the idea of ​​a "silent" music system. During a trip to a mountainous region, he saw the majestic mountain ranges creating a vibrant, three-dimensional space. Immediately, Øivind thought of the speaker design he was developing, and from that, the BeoSound Shape was born, with its three-dimensional shape inspired by the mountain ranges. The speaker system consists of hexagonal blocks that fit together, allowing customers to design their own speaker system by choosing the color, size, and shape of the speakers according to their preferences. This product has won numerous awards over the past year, including the "Design of the Year" award from the Danish Design Awards and the "Breakthrough Product of the Year" award from the prestigious technology magazine Whathifi.com.

BeoPlay A9

BeoSound Shape

B&O's journey to success would likely be incomplete without the contributions of these talented designers. Upholding its core values ​​while blending them with the flow of time and contemporary rhythms, B&O promises to continue being fertile ground for nurturing and empowering many more designers of the future, those who will continue to tell the story of the renowned B&O legend.

Bang & Olufsen store locations:

Hanoi: Melia Hotel, 44B Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hoan Kiem District (024.39460100)

Ho Chi Minh City: Sheraton Hotel, 88 Dong Khoi Street, District 1 (028.38222595)

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