?For all the wonderful strides in consumer technology over the last decade, we have found the embrace of formulaic sameness uninspiring. All of these sleek technologies have planned obsolescence at their core, simply so the next version can sell more. It was this mindset that gave rise to teno, a product we hoped would possess the soul and longevity of a beautiful handcrafted object. Something less sleekly perfect and more...human. ??

But what does human look like? We found ourselves inspired by kintsugi, the Japanese art of piecing together broken parts rather than throwing them away. Could that embrace of imperfection be brought to the world of buttons and wires? How do we create a piece of functional technology that emphasizes beauty, delights our senses and gradually patinas over time???

We sought to make a unique speaker that would address our dissatisfaction with this trend in audio design.??

Contemporary tech is designed to look machine-perfect — and yet it’s never more than a couple years from the landfill. The idea behind teno? Break that pattern.?

From the start, teno veered away from the standard form factor of audio products. Eliminating any buttons or other elements that signaled tech, we asked: How should people feel when they touch teno’s surface? This led to a loose interpretation of the ancient sound bowl, albeit with a powerful bluetooth-connected speaker at its core.

Depending on where and how you touch the bowl, different functions are triggered – a hint of magic as your fingers explore the surface. In that same spirit, the source of its sound is masked with a soft glowing light, rendering the audio technology invisible.

teno is designed to instill calm and delight. A gentle chirping of birds announces your bluetooth connection; subtle drops of water indicate low battery. Its outer shell is made from natural sand, giving it a natural feel. It automatically switches on when you crack it open and switches off when the two halves are put back together.

You control the volume by running your finger up or down along either side of the bowl’s curve. The light is adjusted by tapping the top center side of the bowl. Each gesture connects us with the natural texture of the sand, while gradually creating a fine patina.

?For all its embrace of nature, teno comes with a powerful 45mm full-range driver, delivering deep bass and crystal-clear treble. A perfect blend of invisible technology that makes a great speaker in the background while letting the user experience take center stage. ???

We’ve shipped over 3,500 units to customers across 52 different countries in the first two months.

Retail launches:

Museum design shops around the world have introduced teno, from SFMOMA to the recently opened Museum of the Future in Dubai to Nasjonal Museet in Oslo. The Conran Shop will introduce the product in London, Paris, Seoul and Tokyo next month.

Press:

In a front-page feature, the New York Times wrote of the "thrill of the unexpected" in teno, while The Verge wrote that "Timeless devices like Teno will help break the cycle of yearly upgrades." HYPEBEAST said it will "evoke calm and tranquility" and NYLON wrote "Teno is designed to last, with high quality, sustainably sourced parts and a timeless aesthetic."

Awards:

Teno recently received the prestigious Red Dot Award 2022 "Best of the Best" in two categories: Innovative Products and Audio.