14 DAY TRIAL // There are people out there who really believe that the radio, the plain old common radio, is living its last days before becoming completely obsolete and disappearing for good from our new media world. Despite such ideas, designers like the Aussie John Van Den Nieuwenhuizen keep on delivering projects that are simply so astonishing that they instantly bring a breath of fresh air on the scene, questioning again the utility and the comforting role of traditional radio.
This is the case of the Hidden Radio project, a conceptual endeavor that literally blows to smithereens every piece of the gloomy picture that has been painted of the radio’s demise. The Hidden Radio is more than an exercise of graphic/object design, it's a strong statement that radio will not just fade away in the annals of technology, because it actually has a lot to offer, from the point of view of designer-customer relationship, to say the least.
Centered on devastating simplicity and minimalist conception, John Van Den Nieuwenhuizen's 70mm diameter Hidden Radio adds a forgotten element to the whole equation: interactivity. No remote controls, no displays and, by all means, no buttons! The Hidden Radio is just a shape, seemingly self-sufficient, with an impersonal equilibrium derived from its almost-perfect design.
In order to be able to enjoy your fave radio station or show, the user has to act – think, move and only then enjoy. The white cylinder comes with a moving cap serving as an on-off switch, volume knob and audio trimmer: pull it up to bring the Hidden Radio to life, lift it further to increase the volume and twist it around to tune to your fave local music. And all is done in one natural movement, inspired by the shapes themselves, complemented by the increased light level as you get closer to the perfect frequency.
When the lid of this uncanny radio is lifted, this also increases the bass chamber of the unit, delivering for you a fuller, more dynamic sound to fill your room, or to help you go to sleep in a calm semi-quietness. Unfortunately, there is no word on pricing or availability, even though I know at least a dozen people who'd buy it instantly. Kudos to John Van Den Nieuwenhuizen!
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