DEMON BOX — Gina Zhang

Overview

Eternal Research creates experimental instruments that capture the invisible electromagnetic activity surrounding everyday electronics and transforms it into otherworldly sounds. For its first product, the Demon Box, Spatial Dynamics was asked to transform a functional prototype into a distinctive, performance-ready instrument with a distinct identity. I led the research, strategy, and design, and took a supporting role through development. Demon Box went on to raise more than 11× its Kickstarter goal.

Alexandra's original box: hand-painted black with silver triangle stripes, guitar pickups mounted on the lid, red and silver knobs on the front — The version Alexandra hacked together herself

The user

Alexandra, the founder, is an experimental musician who builds her own gear, so many of the user experience decisions were based on her performance style and preferences.

I also looked at other experimental artists, and noticed that a lot of these musicians wired up their own unique setup. Their setups were often very complex, with lots of different knobs and wires, so we know that accessibility while performing was going to be very important for this project.

Research slide titled Understanding Experimental Music over a black and white photo of a performer's hand on a synthesizer: a definition, then three characteristics, indeterminacy, improvisation and unique instruments

The summoning research

In order to really capture the essence of the demon box, I decided to start with understanding demons and summoning. We realized that the triangle is a very significant shape in occult traditions because a summoning triangle claims to pull something invisible into the room, and that is literally what this instrument does with electromagnetic fields.

The direction became a summoning experience.

A red summoning circle on black: a triangle inside a ring of sigils, labelled Grand Luciferian Circle — The triangle of manifestation

A chart of thirty demon sigils drawn as thin line glyphs, each named and captioned, from Phaleg to Zepar — The triangle of manifestation

The design

Sketch 1, front and three-quarter views: a triangular box with a red ring on top and three short lines radiating from it, knobs along the front edge — Initial sketches

Sketch 2: a ring on top with three spokes running to the corners, finishes annotated matte, shiny and metal — Initial sketches

Seven triangular enclosure concepts rendered in black with red accents, numbered one to seven — First round of concepts

Final concept, three-quarter view: a black triangular enclosure with red lines radiating from a perforated triangle to the corners, knobs along the front edge — Final concept renders

Final concept from the opposite corner, showing the side panel and ports — Final concept renders

The triangle

The electronics had to be arranged around the triangle in a way that made sense, and the sheet metal enclosure needed a folding sequence a factory could produce with the seam that still looked good, and also easily come apart for service.

Two foam core mockups on a wood floor, annotated: ports and power button can go on the side or on top, knobs are close to the user — Foam core prototype

A hand resting on a 3D printed prototype on a cutting mat — Foam core prototype

CAD views of the sheet metal enclosure: assembled, exploded into lid, circuit board and base, and the bare folded base — DFM

Flat sheet metal parts in black and raw aluminium, laid out before bending — DFM

The final product

The most valuable insights from this project came from the demon summoning research, which eventually became a very fun story and experience people instantly understood. The campaign raised 11x its goal on Kickstarter and is available today on the Eternal Research website.

Top view of the Demon Box with two tattooed hands on the knobs, red nails, rings, a synth to the side

Demon Box on a black table in smoke and rose petals, two hands with black nails and jewellery on the lid