An AirPods case form study.

Industry

Industrial and product design

Tools

Procreate, SolidWorks, KeyShot

Year

2025

Experience

Form exploration, 3D modeling, rendering

I designed this protective shell as a study in translating 2D art into 3D hardware. I was inspired by the geometric grid of Grcic’s Chair_ONE to guide the web of the frame, ensuring it covers the most vulnerable areas while keeping the original AirPods form visible. My goal was to move past a standard case and create a minimalist exoskeleton that feels like a premium extension of the Apple design language.

Konstantin Grcic’s Chair_ONE, the reference for the frame’s geometry.

Translating Grcic’s geometry.

The main challenge was reconciling the aggressive, faceted geometry of Grcic’s Chair_ONE with the soft, fluid surfaces of the Apple ecosystem. I began by studying the geometric structure of the chair, using its distinct facets as a framework for my design. By analyzing the angular movements within the chair’s form, I iterated toward a final design. My goal was to simplify the geometry so the final shell felt like it actually belonged to the AirPods, instead of just being an add-on.

Geometric iterations.

Chosen geometric design.

Converted geometric design to a simpler, more fluid version.

Built design in SolidWorks.

Setting up the final renders in KeyShot.

I developed the final 3D model in SolidWorks, ensuring precise geometry before transitioning to KeyShot for high-fidelity material application and photorealistic rendering.