TNT Bluetooth Speaker

A Bluetooth speaker redesigned for a construction framer.

Year2025

TypeProduct Design

LocationAmes, IA

DateSeptember 2025

TeamSophia Thomas

Role: Product design with Sophia Thomas: teardown, research, concept and prototype.
Problem: A Bluetooth speaker that works for a framer: gloves, dust, rain and no outlets.
Result: A clampable speaker with a handle, tested as a cardboard prototype and built as a final model.

Introduction

Designed for a construction framer

A teardown of a Tribit Bluetooth speaker became the baseline for a speaker built for a framer.

Product for teardownTribit Bluetooth speaker (baseline model)

Chosen user groupConstruction workers (framers), 30s to 50s, 5 to 20 years of experience

Context of useOn site; while working or on breaks

EnvironmentsNoisy, dusty, wet, extreme temperatures, often no outlets

GoalRecreate a Bluetooth speaker that’s portable, durable, mountable, and designed for a framer

Market and competitor research

Six jobsite speakers, and what each is good for.

ANCOON

Rugged IPX6 waterproof and shock-resistant speaker with a 10,000 mAh battery for long playtime. Built for durability and all-day playtime on rough jobsites.

W-KING D9 Series

High-power 100 W peak output with dual woofers, tweeters, and IPX6 waterproof design. Loud and clear enough for large, noisy outdoor sites.

Klein Tools

Mid-sized speaker with 20-hour battery, Bluetooth, USB-A & USB-C charging, and mounting options. Easy placement on site, hands-free calls, and crew-wide audio.

DEWALT DCR010

Compact, rugged design with USB charging port, Bluetooth 100 ft range, and phone slot. Portable, with a phone slot and USB charging.

Milwaukee 2891-20

Six-speaker system (40 W), 100 ft Bluetooth range, and compatibility with tool batteries or AC power. Makes sense for crews already on Milwaukee tools.

DEWALT Clip-On Wearable Speaker

Lightweight clip-on design, IP56 water/dust resistance, and built-in mic for hands-free calls. Personal audio that moves with the worker.

User research

Journey map and connected clouds

The journey map clarified where the design needed adjustments. It helped to show pain points of dust, noise competition, gloves, and rain.

Connected Clouds helped us visualize all aspects of the user experience and inspired features I hadn’t originally considered, like integrating a multi-angle clamp and protective grilles to keep the speakers safe.

Journey map: the steps from turning the speaker on to playing music and charging it, with pain points marked

Connected clouds: user needs such as durable, easy buttons, long battery, waterproof, power bank

Initial design considerations

What the early research pointed to.

Early patterns

Ruggedness
Mounting and portability
Extra utility and interface

User needs

Loud
Mounting flexibility
Control with gloves
Compact for mobility

Product gaps

Mid-size “sweet spot”: a powerful but portable option
Universal power options
Hybrid portability + loudness

Ideation

Thumbnail sketches and form studies, from triangular towers to a speaker built into a hard hat, with callouts for rubber contact points, magnetic backs, volume dials and power sliders.

Leading idea

Front-facing speakers, battery lights, a volume dial, Bluetooth, power button, AUX and USB-C. An adjustable slide with a tightening and loosening dial, and rubber contact points, so it adjusts for pillars and other surfaces.

Prototype

Cardboard model

Squeezing the pillar mount worked: the speaker could be clamped on and out of the way. It was awkward to hold and not very durable.

Testing found three things: an awkward hold needed a handle, the tightening dial became clamping with screws, and a bland speaker grill became a unique grill with the logo.

Prototype sketches, inside and front views

Assembly

An exploded view of the final design: main body, back plate, clamp and handle, clamp pad, rubber protectors, button plate, caps and stems, front grill, plates and screws.