Premium Design Meets Scalable Profitability
Services
Positioning, Brand Strategy, Visual Identity, Industrial Design
Momentum 4
About the Product
Momentum 4 is Sennheiser’s flagship wireless over-ear headphone—designed and engineered to deliver immersive, high-fidelity sound and long-lasting comfort. Whether used for focused work, long-haul travel, or everyday listening, Momentum 4 is made to adapt seamlessly to modern life while appealing to a broad and diverse audience.
Challenge
Sennheiser approached us with a clear objective: to expand the appeal of their flagship product while increasing profit margins. Achieving this required evolving the design language—from one that stood out to one that blends in with modern lifestyles. At the same time, we needed to meet tough margin targets and ensure the product delivered a new level of comfort for everyday, long-term use.
Solution
In close collaboration with the Sennheiser team, we defined a strong design vision early on. This clarity enabled fast validation through preference testing against previous generations and leading competitors. Ranking second confirmed we were on the right path and gave stakeholders the confidence to move forward.
We then refined the design for manufacturability and scalability. Rather than relying on expensive materials, we developed a design handbook focused on achieving a premium look through attention to detail and seamless implementation.. One example is the microphone ports, covered with a metallic fabric mesh to enhance both aesthetics and acoustic performance.
The result was a product that combined premium feel with cost-efficiency—broadening its market appeal while strengthening its commercial success.
Services
Comfort Research
We conducted ergonomic studies and user interviews, combining these insights with competitive benchmarking to understand user expectations and refine mechanical design principles. This work laid the foundation for a product that would excel in comfort—an essential requirement for a broader market.
Product Vision
We established a clear vision early in the project, one that balanced desirability, feasibility, and viability. This allowed Sennheiser to conduct acceptance testing before moving into development and helped avoid costly changes later. One example was the decision to implement a cost-saving C-Clamp mechanism, which supported both manufacturing goals and user experience. We defined a minimalist design language that allowed all components—from mechanics and ports to lights and buttons—to integrate seamlessly into the overall aesthetic.
Product Implementation
Our iterative and collaborative implementation process ensured that every design detail supported both performance and manufacturability. We paid special attention to acoustic design, material finishes, and mechanical fit. At the same time, we were able to reduce the bill of materials—increasing profitability without compromising quality.
Insights & Learnings
Establishing a clear product vision within the first three months of this 2.5-year development cycle helped both our team and Sennheiser make the right strategic compromises—balancing cost-efficiency with premium design. This shared clarity gave the project momentum, enabled faster decision-making, and aligned teams around a common direction. The result was a design that reduced production costs while expanding the market appeal of Sennheiser’s flagship product.
