# Wafer-Thin Woofers This Flat Boombox by Hannes Harms Minimizes its Image to Emphasize Sound By Amelia Roblin | Published 2012-06-20 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flat-boombox-by-hannes-harms References: [core77](http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/nice_to_see_flat_boombox_by_hannes_harms_22706.asp) & [hannesharms](http://www.hannesharms.com/) It's hard to believe that this Flat Boombox by Hannes Harms might actually work, given its unfamiliar and impossibly thin profile. But alas, the industrial design graduate of the [Royal College of Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/phytosymbiosis) has arrived at this innovative product as a celebration of the compactness of futuristic technologies. Minus an amplifying cone, this [super sleek sound system](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/acoustic-sculpture-speaker) has a [paper-thin flexible speaker component](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/foldable-speaker-concept) secured on the back. The bulk -- if you can call it bulk -- of the gadget is a 0.5 millimeter sheet of stainless steel that has been perforated through acid etching and scored for its creased stand. **Implications** - Apart from being an intriguing and ingeniously lightweight solution to typically heavy audio equipment, the Flat Boombox by Hannes Harms boasts a minimal use of material in production, minimal-waste manufacturing and enables economical shipping. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.8/10 - Popularity: 62% | Activity: 73% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Flat Speakers:** The rise of flat speakers presents an opportunity for companies to revolutionize the audio industry by producing slim and sleek speaker systems. - **Minimal-waste Manufacturing:** Companies can reduce their carbon footprint and production costs by adopting minimal-waste manufacturing techniques similar to the ones used by Hannes Harms in his Flat Boombox design. - **Ultra-compact Designs:** The demand for ultra-compact and portable gadgets is rising, providing an opportunity for businesses to develop innovative and practical products like the Flat Boombox by Hannes Harms. ### Where This Applies - **Audio Technology:** Companies in the audio technology industry can capitalize on the trend towards flat speakers by developing and producing more efficient, space-saving, and versatile speaker systems. - **Manufacturing:** Manufacturing companies can leverage minimal-waste production techniques to create more sustainable and efficient manufacturing processes that optimizes material usage. - **Consumer Electronics:** The consumer electronics industry can tap into the trend for ultra-compact designs by developing innovative and practical products that don't compromise on functionality, like Hannes Harms' Flat Boombox. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Ultra-Thin Chromatic Speaker Units](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diyr-speaker.md) - [Geometric Foldable Speaker Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pentatonic-1.md) - [Transparent Gramophone-Like Speakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mini-speaker-concept.md) - [Minimalist Wireless Speaker Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/minimalist-wireless-speaker.md) - [Minimalist Metallic Speaker Units](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/suono-bluetooth-speaker.md) - [Fashionable Portable Speakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-speaker-concept.md) - [Minimalist See-Through Speaker Units](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/witalogy-speaker.md) - [Minimal Elegant Desktop Speakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hoan-desktop.md) - [Distortion-Free Sound Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/genesis-speaker.md)