RetroNova

The Retro Nova project began as an exploration of product design and brand identity — a self-initiated brief with one guiding question: what does nostalgia look like when it’s pointed toward the future? The answer took shape as a portable radio and Bluetooth speaker that draws from the warm, tactile design language of mid-century audio…

The Retro Nova project began as an exploration of product design and brand identity — a self-initiated brief with one guiding question: what does nostalgia look like when it’s pointed toward the future? The answer took shape as a portable radio and Bluetooth speaker that draws from the warm, tactile design language of mid-century audio equipment, while pushing its form and finish into something unmistakably contemporary. Every curve, cutout, and color choice was considered through that dual lens — familiar enough to feel like a memory, refined enough to feel like what comes next.

Modeling

The model was built using a quad-based modeling workflow, with subdivision applied to achieve a clean, production-ready surface. Careful attention to edge flow and topology was essential in maintaining the smooth, intentional curves the design called for. The final mesh lands at 1.87 million triangles — dense enough to hold the subtle surface detail that gives Retro Nova its character, without sacrificing efficiency in the render pipeline.

Renderings

With the model complete, the focus shifted to presentation — bringing Retro Nova to life through a series of product renderings designed to showcase both form and materiality. Lighting and surface shading were dialed in to highlight the contrast between soft, rounded geometries and the tactile detail of the speaker grille and control elements. Each shot was composed with a product-photography mindset, treating the speaker as a real object worthy of a studio.