2025
Designing and engineering headphones for Steelcase means creating a product that enhances health, productivity, and well-being in the workplace. Aligned with Steelcase’s mission to unlock human potential, the design integrates seamlessly into their vision of optimizing the work experience, minimizing negative physical and cognitive reflexes through empathetic, human-centered innovation.
headphone design thesis
DESIGNING A HEADPHONE THAT CAN SWITCH BETWEEN THREE SOUND MODES FOR A HEALTHIER DIRECTION TO LISTENING
designed to last, support and enhance what already exists.
STEELCASE REFLEX applies the same biomechanical technologies used in Steelcase’s performance task chairs to create an ergonomic listening experience and cohesive workplace ecosystem.
personal MODE
an ergonomic, user friendly and minimalist headphone design that allows you to easily navigate between volume, on/off and bluetooth options through rotational features.
focus on work performance: the headphones help users focus in open-office environments, block distractions, and create a personal auditory workspace.
Speaker MODE: near filed / omnidirectional
speaker panel allows your headphones to seamlessly transition between individual work and collaboration with others. crafted to reduce prolonged use of headphones and seamlessly elevate workspace.
Reflex headphones creates spaces that bring people, place and technology together in a curated way - one that considers health, comfort, acoustics, privacy, and ease - creating an enhanced collaboration experience, unlike any other.
from tables to extended reality experiences, reflex makes conversations and collaboration better in the hybrid workplace.
directional MODE
the expandable speaker panel places in the chair’s backrest that dynamically shifts between a closed passive sound chamber and an open, wide-dispersion audio mode.
Directional Audio Using Holosonic, Audio Spotlight Technology: delivers sound directly to a listener’s ears through narrow, focused ultrasonic beams—creating a private sound zone.
The physical air itself becomes the speaker — no devices need to be worn on the head or ears.
Steelcase Reflex addresses the growing dependence on headphones in hybrid and collaborative workplaces—where private focus is needed, but prolonged headphone use contributes to hearing fatigue and long-term hearing loss.
With over 1 billion young people at risk of noise-induced hearing damage from unsafe listening practices, Reflex rethinks personal audio by integrating it into the workplace itself. Designed to be engaging, equitable, and health-conscious, Reflex expands Steelcase’s mission to create more functional work environments, translating its design language into an audio system that supports focus without isolation and performance without compromising hearing health.
