Product Design
This CD Mixer Bracket was my first ‘real life’ design project after graduating so I think it’s important to share. This was a development of an existing single bracket to hold CD mixers and provide extra equipment space for DJs. It was created for mass manufacture so I developed the technical drawings, did factory tests to check the profiles didn’t allow too much flex then included adjustments to the reach to account for peoples varying arm lengths too. This might not be the most complicated design I’ve ever done but it gave me a real sense of achievement to go into a store, in this case Selfridges, and see a product I’d developed on the shelf. It made the years of studying and searching for a design job feel worthwhile.
The CD mixer bracket supports CD mixers or effects pads above the decks. The bracket is angled to bring the equipment closer to the DJ and it is reach and tilt adjustable for individual positioning. The upper arm is in a grooved adjustable scale to clamp the equipment in place and this bracket could fix to the X25 mixer/desk stand (shown above) or attach securely to any DJ bench.
The CD mixer bracket, in use at an event
A month later I saw a DJ using this and I grabbed the chance to get immediate feedback on the ergonomics and the performance after his set. I encourage all designers to ask questions, touch products and test things. If it’s a product design you see if you can adjust the tooling it for the next run and if it’s an interior design you bank that knowledge for the next space you create.
Image credits: Sefour and MixMag
Collaborator - Giles Wheeler (designer of the original bracket)
