HearO

A self-initiated studio project, hearO emerged from a drive to share the potential that exists in materials – both old and new – and create a compelling, commercially viable icon of reuse.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of championship tennis balls are retired, but hearO saw that these small pieces of tennis history had more to offer. Our task was to design a truly wireless speaker experience that delivered the best possible audio while taking full advantage of the tennis ball ergonomics. Sustainability and reinvention were at the heart of hearO’s vision, and this ethos informed our decision-making at every stage of the project – from the concept sketches all the way to the reusable packaging.

The portable speaker developed into an ideal concept because a tennis ball is a ready-made protective case, and the skin controls vibration while still allowing for warm, rich sound projection.

hearO cuts each tennis ball in Northampton using the purpose-built cutting press. The first cut compresses the ball onto a circular blade, while the second cut uses the 3D-printed cutting guide to define the precise angle – and the cutting beds enable hearO to cut 20 tennis balls at a time at a programmed pressure. The product is then assembled and packaged in London, with each tennis ball press-fit onto the hearO speaker console.