Aiden Hwang

Dynamic Speaker Cradles

Form and function at once

  • Industrial Design
  • Ergonomics
  • Audio
Year
2026
Role
Designer and maker
Tools
3D printing
A black bookshelf speaker resting on a white 3D-printed cradle, a ribbed block with an adjustable bar across its top, standing on a small drawer unit
Year
2026
Role
Designer and maker
Tools
3D printing

I connected my passions in music and design, solving multiple problems with a creation that I take comfort in daily.

This speaker stand system is a duo of drawers that store my small and medium items. They have properly set gyroid infill and increased wall loops, securing both their own mass and the speakers that sit on top of them. The speaker cradles, which rest on top of the drawers, feature a suspension system using rubber bands, integrating seamlessly into the design and absorbing vibrations that would normally shake my desk. The drawers also elevate the speaker tweeters to my ear height, the proper mark to optimize musical immersion.

It also makes my desk look and feel cozy and clean at the same time.

Dynamic, vibration-absorbent suspension
A black bookshelf speaker raised on its white printed cradle above a ribbed drawer unit, on the desk beside a row of books and a white keyboard
The finished pair: two speakers on their cradles either side of a laptop on a stand, books to the left and a vent to the right, all reflected in the black desk

My desk setup without my peripheral keyboard

A close-up of one rubber band looped over the printed catch that holds the speaker platform to the drawer unit
The same catch from the side, the band stretched between the two printed arms
How everything comes together

Black rubber bands contribute to the cradle design in both form and function.

The speaker on its cradle against a plain wall, the drawer unit’s ribbed side catching the light
The stand seen from the side: the dark panel of the speaker standing on the white ribbed unit, its cable running down behind

Designing and building a product that improves the quality of everyday life is a uniquely satisfying journey. These cradles satisfy my needs in spatial organization, aesthetics, and audio enjoyment all at once.

I like listening to synthwave music while I study, K-pop and J-pop while I do simple tasks, and indie / electronic music when I want to visit another world. I also include trombone music, some lo-fi, and some beatboxing (music can come from anywhere!) to set any mood. The featured speakers are Edifier MR4s, connected to a Qudelix-5K with custom EQ settings.

Both drawers pulled out of the unit under the speaker, cables and odds and ends inside them
The stand from behind: the speaker on its cradle above the unit’s cross-braced back panel
The desk in use: the laptop open on its stand with a tablet behind it, the two speakers on their cradles either side

I printed the bottom layer of the drawers within each stand to align with their opening and closing direction, making storage simple and convenient. Additionally, the surface that each drawer rests on top of minimizes contact area with the drawer to further increase smoothness.

I use a prototype print and two rice cake soups to elevate my tablet to an ideal height.

Cornell should give its students an instant food subscription.

A tablet propped up on two instant-soup cups on top of the unit, wedged between the two speakers