ALIENWARE AU-1
Structural Engineering Study & Product Design
April, 2025
Alienware AU-1 is a gaming speaker built under the Alienware Legend design language, with a front Tron Ring that synchronizes with the AlienFX lighting system to integrate visually into the Alienware battlestation ecosystem. Mounted on an adjustable stand, AU-1 can move vertically to direct sound precisely toward the player.
* This is a school project with no association with Alienware.
A complete ecosystem — except for sound.
No speaker, no immersion.
As gaming and media consumption grow more audio-dependent, Alienware’s ecosystem still has no native speaker, leaving an open opportunity to close the only remaining gap in immersion and cohesion.
Brand Vision
Distinctive Design
Pioneering Technology
Elevated Gaming Experience
ALIENWARE AU-1
Where gaming and entertainment come alive.
Atmosphere that doesn’t stop at the screen.
The Tron Ring on the front of the speaker joins the AlienFX system, syncing millions of colors with the rest of the setup so the game’s atmosphere continues into the room.
Adjust the height, elevate the experience.
A rear button unlocks 140mm of vertical adjustment, allowing the user to tune the speaker’s height for an optimal listening experience.
When sound gains a
second dimension.
A pairing button allows two speakers to connect into a stereo setup, giving users a wider and more immersive listening experience.
Working Processes
Objective
How to design a speaker for Alienware that continues its iconic design language?
Through 8+ rounds of iterations, I ended up incorporating all of the internal components of the JBL Flip 5 into the AU-1and realized 90% of the functionality I had envisioned for this design.
To design forward,
I looked inward.
To test feasibility, I disassembled a JBL speaker and refit its components into my design. The resulting prototype confirms the concept can be built.
Iteration, Iteration, Iteration.
CMF option #1
Dark side of the moon
Semi-Matte Anodized Gunmetal Aluminum
Gloss Black Injection-Molded PC
CMF option #2
Lunar light
Semi-Matte White Coated Magnesium Alloy
Semi-Matte Black Coated Magnesium Alloy
Gloss Black Injection-Molded PC
Designed By
Ge Wu
2025
Special Thanks
Prof. Javier Palomares
*Original image from Alienware official site
Designed for the place where gaming actually happens.
Positioned at desktop range, AU-1 delivers focused audio and lighting exactly where gameplay is perceived, instead of dispersing into the space at large.
Letting the room become the game world.
Once AU-1 becomes part of the setup, it shifts your desk from furniture to environment, allowing the game to occupy the space you sit in.
*Original image from Alienware official site