To hide or not to hide?

I had a closer look at these designs as their aesthetics are quite popular current, as are a lot of 60s styles, and also because of how the designers tackled the displays. With the current design brief, quite a few people have been trying to hide the screen required for an internet radio. The tuner is the analog equivalent of a LCD screen and previous designs have featured it or attempted to hide it.

Dieter Ram's T1000 goes for the hidden screen approach so as to not effect the external lines of the product. Also interesting in this product is the layout of the dials and knobs within the container. The layout is particularly geometric, in rows and columns which not only allows the controls to be easily used but also makes the design 'sit' better. Everything looks like it belongs where it is and there is balance in the use of space, it is neither crowded nor empty.

The second design in the Sanyo M9815K Boombox. This approaches the issue of the controls and screen effecting the outer aesthetic by embracing them an making them a show piece. The tuner is not merely functional, it also attempts to add to the look of the product and the  large, robust controls express that this is a serious piece of kit, not just a toy with poor sound quality.

Two different approaches, neither wrong.

Ed