There’s no doubt you have heard of Monster Cable Products, but you may not know the full array of audio products they produce. From cables and automation equipment to pro audio speakers and equipment for everything from automotive to home theater and headgear for looking stylish wherever you go, Monster Products is one of the largest names in high performance audio. We talked with Claudio Turrisi, working with Monster to produce the visuals used throughout the design process with KeyShot, to define their products across web, advertising and packaging.

Monster Products / Claudio Turrisi

Modeling software used: 3ds Max
Website: monsterproducts.com

Can you give some background on Monster Products and what you do?
Monster Cable Products is a 35 years old company designing and producing consumer electronics products. From audio cables, accessories to headphones and speakers the Monster team of product and industrial designers create new products for the mass market. Over the past two years, I have provided creative concepts as renderings for package design and advertising, adding video recently as well.

monster-products-keyshot-cust-01-tnWhat are some project highlights?
Monster has a wide range of products. The iSport headphone line is a stylish one, but the project I personally like is the adidas Original in-ear and over-ear headphone line.

It was a really interesting study in clean, sporty style, creating the renderings and video for the advertising. It was also winner of the 2014 Red Dot Product Design Award so, yes, it was really exciting to be part of it.

What would you say is unique about the design process at Monster?
The creative process is unique and different in every company, but with Monster it’s exciting to develop products inspired by a singer or pop-star, so throughout the design process we need to understand and incorporate the style, mood and feeling of that artist. Music is an extension of the artist’s soul, so we need to be in tune, guided by the music they create–Yes, we listen to music to design products, designed to listen to music.

When there is a last minute change and I need to provide product images for packaging and advertising or visuals for website and events, KeyShot is the solution.”

Where in the process is KeyShot used?
KeyShot plays a critical role in our process. We use it for internal presentations, immediately after the first 3D concept, to present internally to the marketing team to get initial feedback. Meanwhile, the design process continues, using KeyShot to find the best color and finishing combinations. KeyShot helps deliver initial concepts, but the real-time rendering helps us visualize the final product fast during the design process. After the design, KeyShot is our primary software for creating additional visuals for packaging and advertising.

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How has KeyShot helped save time, money or improve quality?
Time is really important when production needs to deliver on a tight schedule–Everyone know time is money. When there is a last minute change and I need to provide product images for packaging and advertising or visuals for website and events, KeyShot is the solution.

What is one piece of advice or KeyShot tip you would pass along to other designers?
Gamma is not only some kind of radiation than can transform Bruce Banner into the Hulk. Don’t forget the Gamma setting in KeyShot (under Project, Settings, Adjustments). When I can’t find the right balance between light and materials or black is not black enough, then I remember Gamma, adjust it and get what I need. KeyShot is actually really good for animated particles. By converting particles into geometries and baking the animation it is possible. I recently tested 7500 animated geometries, all with subsurface scattering material in a single scene. Amazing.

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