Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100
Adaptive and delightful
Adaptive and delightful
Project overview
Project overview
Project overview
As the Lead Human Interface Designer for the H100, I also took on the roles of Product Owner and contributed months to Industrial Design. This unique opportunity allowed me to spearhead the vision for B&O’s next-gen wearable.
My mission was clear: Fundamentally transform the core of B&O’s headphone line. This transformation was guided by extensive user research, customer engagement, and comprehensive competitive analysis, all combined with my deep passion for technology in the wearable space.
As the Lead Human Interface Designer for the H100, I also took on the roles of Product Owner and contributed months to Industrial Design. This unique opportunity allowed me to spearhead the vision for B&O’s next-gen wearable.
My mission was clear: Fundamentally transform the core of B&O’s headphone line. This transformation was guided by extensive user research, customer engagement, and comprehensive competitive analysis, all combined with my deep passion for technology in the wearable space.
As the Lead Human Interface Designer for the H100, I also took on the roles of Product Owner and contributed months to Industrial Design. This unique opportunity allowed me to spearhead the vision for B&O’s next-gen wearable.
My mission was clear: Fundamentally transform the core of B&O’s headphone line. This transformation was guided by extensive user research, customer engagement, and comprehensive competitive analysis, all combined with my deep passion for technology in the wearable space.
Roles
Roles
Roles
Lead Human Interface Designer, Product Lead, ID, System & Sensor Design, User Testing
Lead Human Interface Designer, Product Lead, ID, System & Sensor Design, User Testing
Lead Human Interface Designer, Product Lead, ID, System & Sensor Design, User Testing
Teams
Teams
Teams
Embedded Software, Mechanical, Hardware, Industrial Design & Product Marketing.
Embedded Software, Mechanical, Hardware, Industrial Design & Product Marketing.
Embedded Software, Mechanical, Hardware, Industrial Design & Product Marketing.
Timeline
Timeline
Timeline
2022-2025
2022-2025
2022-2025
Design intent
Design intent
Key focus areas
Key focus areas
Interaction Design
Design
Introducing intuitive and adaptive features, refining the user interface, optimising connectivity behaviour, and enhancing overall comfort. Our goal was to mature the design from H95 while optimising it for performance and simplicity.
Introducing intuitive and adaptive features, refining the user interface, optimising connectivity behaviour, and enhancing overall comfort. Our goal was to mature the design from H95 while optimising it for performance and simplicity.
Performance
H100 needed to surpass H95 in every aspect, from audio performance to active noise cancellation, transparency mode, wind noise reduction, and voice pickup. The objective was clear. A new industry standard.
Performance
H100 needed to surpass H95 in every aspect, from audio performance to active noise cancellation, transparency mode, wind noise reduction, and voice pickup. The objective was clear. A new industry standard.
Modularity
Every wear part on the H100 should be replaceable—not just the batteries, but also ear cushions, inner isolator fabric, and the inner headband. Designed with sustainability in mind, simple repairs and smart battery handling.
Modularity
Every wear part on the H100 should be replaceable—not just the batteries, but also ear cushions, inner isolator fabric, and the inner headband. Designed with sustainability in mind, simple repairs and smart battery handling.
Interaction Design
Interaction Design
Simplified, forgiving and enhanced
Simplified, forgiving and enhanced
The existing B&O headphone lineup had a complex UI, with too many functions scattered across. My approach was to focus on the essentials, creating a user-friendly design that required no manual to understand. The symmetrical touch and button layout allows for interaction from either side, based on user preference. Additionally, the UI can be customised to add more advanced controls according to your preferences.
The existing B&O headphone lineup had a complex UI, with too many functions scattered across. My approach was to focus on the essentials, creating a user-friendly design that required no manual to understand. The symmetrical touch and button layout allows for interaction from either side, based on user preference. Additionally, the UI can be customised to add more advanced controls according to your preferences.
Dials
Dials
Problem
The H95 dials were appreciated, but their placement within the monoarm limited functionality and required frequent finger repositioning for full rotation. Additionally, the sound feedback was confusing, with users needing to make three full turns to switch between Transparency and ANC modes. Data showed that 96% of users preferred either maximum ANC or full transparency, making the current design inefficient.
The H95 dials were appreciated, but their placement within the monoarm limited functionality and required frequent finger repositioning for full rotation. Additionally, the sound feedback was confusing, with users needing to make three full turns to switch between Transparency and ANC modes. Data showed that 96% of users preferred either maximum ANC or full transparency, making the current design inefficient.
Solution
I moved the dials to the outside for effortless interaction and I redesigned the dial sensitivity to ensure full range control within a single interaction. I created a patent-pending haptic and sound feedback system, working closely with mechanical and software teams to reduce latency and create a synchronised experience. We made new clear endpoint sounds and added a button for quickly toggling between ANC and Transparency modes.
I moved the dials to the outside for effortless interaction and I redesigned the dial sensitivity to ensure full range control within a single interaction. I created a patent-pending haptic and sound feedback system, working closely with mechanical and software teams to reduce latency and create a synchronised experience. We made new clear endpoint sounds and added a button for quickly toggling between ANC and Transparency modes.
Touch Interface
Touch Interface
Problem
Problem
Users reported poor feedback from the touch-through-metal interface on previous models, leading to confusion and missed interactions.
Solution
We introduced a new hardened glass surface, which allowed for more responsive and forgiving interactions. To address the challenge of blind touch interactions, I designed a real-time feedforward system that provides auditory feedback about potential actions before they are executed, this was only possible due to tight collaboration with DSP and software teams.
Unmute the video to hear the sound feedback
Solution
Unmute the video to hear the sound feedback
We introduced a new hardened glass surface, which allowed for more responsive and forgiving interactions. To address the challenge of blind touch interactions, I designed a real-time feedforward system that provides auditory feedback about potential actions before they are executed, this was only possible due to tight collaboration with DSP and software teams.
Quick Listen
Quick Listen
Quick Listen is designed for those moments when you need to quickly tune into the world around you. Lift an earcup or cover the touch surface, and Quick Listen will instantly activate transparency mode and pause your audio. Once you’re ready to resume, any interaction on the headset or pressing play on your device will bring you back to your audio seamlessly.
Unmute the video to hear the sound feedback
Adaptive & Intelligent
Things that just make sense
H100 stands as B&O’s pinnacle headphone, integrating advanced sensors—force, capacitive, and IMUs—combined using Sensor Fusion and Machine Learning. I led the development of an industry-leading adaptive system, that is responsible for everything from automatically powering on or off, routing audio when needed, control playback and ANC/Transparency settings based on wearing state or user behaviour. All while ensuring optimal energy efficiency when not in use.
My role extended from conceptualising and patenting these features to leading multidisciplinary teams in their implementation, overcoming numerous challenges—from detailed sensor and system work and user testing to refining calibration methods and optimising production—ensuring design intent and product quality through hands-on involvement with OEM partners.
Automatic on & off
Place H100 on your head and they power on.
To power off, simply take them off.
Precision sensing
Robust and high precision wear detect solution, lightyears ahead of anything B&O has ever built before.
Audio routing
Routes audio and calls to headset when worn, and returns it when removed.
UX improving adaptions
Play/pause. Transparency. Wind. Audio Routing.
Intuitive light
feedback
Simplified feedback. Smooth animations.
Sensor Design
State machines
Power management
User testing
Bluetooth connectivity
Production calibration
System design
Next-gen Multipoint
In collaboration with the B&O software team, we designed an intuitive multipoint system that allows users to seamlessly switch between devices. All you have to do is start a stream on the new device, and the system will pause the old stream and instantly switch. All this without any of the false triggers that other multipoint systems have like notifications of the 2nd device. Supported with 2 devices multipoint at first, more to come later.
Unmute the video to hear the multipoint switching
36x
Faster than H95
97ms
Switching time
0%
False triggers
Automatic on & off
Place H100 on your head and they will power on. To power off, simply take them off.
Precision sensing
Robust and high precision wear detect solution, lightyears ahead of anything B&O has ever built.
Audio routing
Routes audio and calls to headset when worn, and returns it when removed.
UX improving
adaptions
Auto play/pause. Transparency. Handling robustness.
Intuitive light
feedback
Simplified feedback. Smooth animations.
Ergonomics & Magnets
Ergonomics & Magnets
Comfort by design
Comfort by design
Ergonomics is a critical factor in the design of any headphone, and with H100 coming in at 375g, getting it right was essential. To ensure optimal comfort, I meticulously worked to distribute the weight across the top of the head, pairing it with a finely-tuned clamping force that needed to be strong enough to maintain an acoustic seal and secure fit during movement, yet loose enough for extended wear without discomfort.
To achieve this harmony, I led user testing and prototyping, iterating on various clamping forces, cushions and headband curvatures. These iterations, informed by real user feedback, were crucial in refining the design. We carefully considered material deformation, acoustic sealing, and user comfort throughout this process, ultimately arriving at a design that achieves the best comfort in any B&O headphone without compromising on performance.
Ergonomics is a critical factor in the design of any headphone, and with H100 coming in at 375g, getting it right was essential. To ensure optimal comfort, I meticulously worked to distribute the weight across the top of the head, pairing it with a finely-tuned clamping force that needed to be strong enough to maintain an acoustic seal and secure fit during movement, yet loose enough for extended wear without discomfort.
To achieve this harmony, I led user testing and prototyping, iterating on various clamping forces, cushions and headband curvatures. These iterations, informed by real user feedback, were crucial in refining the design. We carefully considered material deformation, acoustic sealing, and user comfort throughout this process, ultimately arriving at a design that achieves the best comfort in any B&O headphone without compromising on performance.
More room for your ears
More room for your ears
The objective was to maximise comfort and ear space without enlarging the headphones, compromising acoustics, or reducing the space available for internal components, all while ensuring that every wear part remained replaceable. After numerous prototypes and iterations, we developed a 3D-formed knitted isolator that provided an additional 8mm depth, enhancing comfort without sacrificing the product’s design or acoustic performance.
The objective was to maximise comfort and ear space without enlarging the headphones, compromising acoustics, or reducing the space available for internal components, all while ensuring that every wear part remained replaceable. After numerous prototypes and iterations, we developed a 3D-formed knitted isolator that provided an additional 8mm depth, enhancing comfort without sacrificing the product’s design or acoustic performance.
Magnetic modularity
Magnetic modularity
Using a 3D-knitted isolator allowed us to eliminate plastic carriers often found on removable ear cushions, increasing ear space and ensuring no hard elements touch the earlobes for lasting comfort.
However, avoiding plastic carriers introduced a new challenge: if the earcushion were not placed correctly, the isolator would deform. To address this, I designed a magnet array that guarantees correct placement every time, ensuring the isolator maintains its intended shape.
I applied the same magnetic solution to the removable headband, ensuring it snaps into place perfectly.
Using a 3D-knitted isolator allowed us to eliminate plastic carriers often found on removable ear cushions, increasing ear space and ensuring no hard elements touch the earlobes for lasting comfort.
However, avoiding plastic carriers introduced a new challenge: if the earcushion were not placed correctly, the isolator would deform. To address this, I designed a magnet array that guarantees correct placement every time, ensuring the isolator maintains its intended shape.
I applied the same magnetic solution to the removable headband, ensuring it snaps into place perfectly.
Using a 3D-knitted isolator allowed us to eliminate plastic carriers often found on removable ear cushions, increasing ear space and ensuring no hard elements touch the earlobes for lasting comfort.
However, avoiding plastic carriers introduced a new challenge: if the earcushion were not placed correctly, the isolator would deform. To address this, I designed a magnet array that guarantees correct placement every time, ensuring the isolator maintains its intended shape.
I applied the same magnetic solution to the removable headband, ensuring it snaps into place perfectly.
Animation showing the removable headband and earcushions
Unboxing & setup
Helping you get started
Welcome card
Designed a new first-time setup experience for new users, utilising NFC and App Clips as a way to guide people.
Step 1
Begins with new unopened box
Step 2
Discover the welcome card as the first thing when opening the lid
Step 3
Unwrap the headphones and delve into the instructions on the card
Step 4
Hover phone above card to trigger App Clip or setup
App Clip
The app clip shows how the headphones work. What you can do with the B&O app and help lower the bar of entry for downloading the app, as you can simply tap to download while exploring the app clip.
App starting point
Our existing setup flow was slow, confusing, had too many steps, manual updates, and outdated pairing methods. Taking up to 2 minutes when skipping updates and up to 45 minutes with updates.
Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.
I broke the setup process down into its core elements. Redesigned each part and created a new simplified flow that's drastically shorter, taking around 10s.
Designed new ways of doing OS pairing, reducing the pairing time from up to 80s down to less than 2s, while improving security.
Led our work enabling automatic background updates.
Designed a new product guide with 3D animations showing how to use the headset.
58%
Less taps
12x
Faster from start to finish
(without update)
300x
Faster from start to finish
(including update)
App architecture work
I simplified the app architecture by prioritising the most-used features, placing them prominently on the home screen to minimise the steps required for users to take action. I took responsibility for UX writing and crafted numerous product-specific screens. These designs served as the foundation for the final UI, which was meticulously developed by B&O’s UI designers based on my briefs and sketches. To ensure seamless functionality, I collaborated closely with app developers and embedded software engineers, integrating the product’s features smoothly with the app interface.
Adaptive & Intelligent
Things that just make sense
H100 stands as B&O’s pinnacle headphone, integrating advanced sensors—force, capacitive, and IMUs—combined through Sensor Fusion and Machine Learning. I led the development of an industry-leading adaptive system, that is responsible for everything from automatically powering on or off, routing audio when needed, control playback and ANC/Transparency settings based on wearing state or user behaviour. All while ensuring optimal energy efficiency when not in use.
My role extended from conceptualising and patenting these features to leading multidisciplinary teams in their implementation, overcoming numerous challenges, from detailed sensor and system work, and user testing, to refining calibration methods and optimising production. Ensuring design intent and product quality through hands-on involvement with OEM partners.
Automatic on & off
Place H100 on your head and they will automatically power on. To power off, simply take them off.
Precision sensing
Robust and high precision wear detect solution, lightyears ahead of anything B&O has ever built.
Audio routing
Routes audio and calls to headset when worn, and returns it when removed.
UX improving
adaptions
Play/pause. Transparency.
Wind. Audio Routing.
Intuitive light
feedback
Simplified feedback. Smooth animations.
Next-gen Multipoint
In collaboration with the B&O software team, we designed an intuitive multipoint system that allows users to seamlessly switch between devices. All you have to do is start a stream on the new device, and the system will pause the old stream and instantly switch. All this without any of the false triggers that other multipoint systems have like notifications of the 2nd device. Supported with 2 devices multipoint at first, more to come later.
Unmute the video to hear the multipoint switching
Unboxing & Setup
Helping you get started
Welcome card
Designed a new first-time setup experience for new users, utilising NFC and App Clips as a way to guide people.
App Clip
The app clip shows how the headphones work. What you can do with the B&O app and help lower the bar of entry for downloading the app, as you can simply tap to download while exploring the app clip.
Step 1
Begin unboxing.
Step 2
Welcome card is the first thing you see.
Step 3
Unbox the headphones.
Step 4
Hover phone above card to trigger App Clip flow.
App starting point
Our existing setup flow was slow, confusing, had too many steps, manual updates, and outdated pairing methods. Taking up to 2 minutes when skipping updates and up to 45 minutes with updates.
Simplify & optimise
I broke the setup process down into its core elements. Redesigned each part and created a new simplified flow that's drastically shorter, taking around 10s.
Designed new ways of doing OS pairing, reducing the pairing time from up to 80s down to less than 2s, while improving security.
Led our work enabling automatic background updates.
Designed a new product guide with 3D animations showing how to use the headset.
58%
Less taps
12x
Faster from start to finish
(without update)
300x
Faster from start to finish
(including update)
App architecture work
I simplified the app architecture by prioritising the most-used features, placing them prominently on the home screen to minimise the steps required for users to take action. I took responsibility for UX writing and crafted numerous product-specific screens. These designs served as the foundation for the final UI, which was meticulously developed by B&O’s UI designers based on my briefs and sketches. To ensure seamless functionality, I collaborated closely with app developers and embedded software engineers, integrating the product’s features smoothly with the app interface.
Reviews
Reviews
Reviews
"The sheer usability with the auto-on and auto-pause functions. I love the rotary volume control on the right earcup and the dial for transparency on the left"
Mark Sparrow
Technology Journalist, Forbes
"Everything exudes such refinement—to the exquisite sound and tactile feedback you experience when you turn one of the two dials on the ear cups"
Torben Vognsen
Editor-in-Chief, Inputmag
LYD & BILLEDE
"An impressive piece of engineering and design. Offering balanced and detailed sound, outstanding build quality, and a promise of longevity that few can match"
Geir Gråbein Nordby
Senior Tech Journalist, Lyd & Billede
"The sheer usability with the auto-on and auto-pause functions. I love the rotary volume control on the right earcup and the dial for transparency on the left"
Mark Sparrow
Technology Journalist, Forbes
"Everything exudes such refinement—to the exquisite sound and tactile feedback you experience when you turn one of the two dials on the ear cups"
Torben Vognsen
Editor-in-Chief, Inputmag
LYD & BILLEDE
"An impressive piece of engineering and design. Offering balanced and detailed sound, outstanding build quality, and a promise of longevity that few can match"
Geir Gråbein Nordby
Senior Tech Journalist, Lyd & Billede
"The sheer usability with the auto-on and auto-pause functions. I love the rotary volume control on the right earcup and the dial for transparency on the left"
Mark Sparrow
Technology Journalist, Forbes
"Everything exudes such refinement—to the exquisite sound and tactile feedback you experience when you turn one of the two dials on the ear cups"
Torben Vognsen
Editor-in-Chief, Inputmag
LYD & BILLEDE
"An impressive piece of engineering and design. Offering balanced and detailed sound, outstanding build quality, and a promise of longevity that few can match"
Geir Gråbein Nordby
Senior Tech Journalist, Lyd & Billede
"The sheer usability with the auto-on and auto-pause functions. I love the rotary volume control on the right earcup and the dial for transparency on the left"
Mark Sparrow
Technology Journalist, Forbes
"Everything exudes such refinement—to the exquisite sound and tactile feedback you experience when you turn one of the two dials on the ear cups"
Torben Vognsen
Editor-in-Chief, Inputmag
LYD & BILLEDE
"An impressive piece of engineering and design. Offering balanced and detailed sound, outstanding build quality, and a promise of longevity that few can match"
Geir Gråbein Nordby
Senior Tech Journalist, Lyd & Billede
"The sheer usability with the auto-on and auto-pause functions. I love the rotary volume control on the right earcup and the dial for transparency on the left"
Mark Sparrow
Technology Journalist, Forbes
"Everything exudes such refinement—to the exquisite sound and tactile feedback you experience when you turn one of the two dials on the ear cups"
Torben Vognsen
Editor-in-Chief, Inputmag
LYD & BILLEDE
"An impressive piece of engineering and design. Offering balanced and detailed sound, outstanding build quality, and a promise of longevity that few can match"
Geir Gråbein Nordby
Senior Tech Journalist, Lyd & Billede