Independent design

Engineering your audio dream.

Industrial design and mechanical engineering for high-end audio products and electronic devices.

From concept to design for manufacture: enclosures, panels and thermal solutions, with the attention to detail that defines a high-end audio product.

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01 SELECTED WORK

Projects

Independent projects developed with a focus on design, construction and manufacturing.

ONE, hi-fi streamer with integrated Class D amplifier

Render 01 / 08

Hi-Fi streamer · Integrated amplifier

ONE

ONE is a hi-fi streamer with a high-performance integrated Class D amplifier. Developed from my original 2021 DIY build, it refines the concept through custom mechanical parts, an optimised internal layout and a stronger focus on manufacturing.

A redesigned chassis that also accommodates a high-performance DAC, retaining the external dimensions of the original DIY build.
A mechanical architecture compatible with different Class D amplifier modules: Pascal S-PRO2, ICEpower 250ASX2, ICEpower 200AS2 and Hypex Ncore NC252MP, with no changes to the chassis.
A centrally positioned front display with no upper or lower bezel, creating a clean, integrated appearance.
Improved heat management through solutions integrated into the chassis design.
A backlit AudiophileBerry logo on the top panel, a distinctive element of the product’s identity.

Role: Industrial design · Mechanical engineering · Prototyping
Processes: CNC machining · Sheet metal · Laser cutting

The first build

The origins of ONE.

The first AudiophileBerry streamer-amplifier was built around standard components: aluminium profiles for mechatronics, an off-the-shelf display and custom CNC-machined enclosure panels.

The challenge was to bring catalogue components together as a coherent product, carefully considering space, fixings and fit. This project laid the foundations for the development of ONE.

First AudiophileBerry DIY streamer-amplifier build

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Mini-ITX enclosure · Audio & desktop PC

SM FIVE

SM FIVE is a Mini-ITX enclosure with an integrated front display, designed for DIY audio systems and compact desktop PCs. Its all-sheet-metal construction helps keep manufacturing costs down. Carefully considered proportions and details give it a distinctive identity within the constraints of the manufacturing process.

Focus: Product identity · Manufacturing constraints · Production costs
Process: Sheet metal

Available for new projects

Your product could be next.

I work with brands and companies to develop high-end audio products and electronic devices, from concept to mechanical design for manufacture. Industrial design, component integration and construction are developed as parts of one coherent project. Let’s talk about your idea.

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02 WHAT I DO

Capabilities

Specialising in high-end audio, I also provide industrial and mechanical design for other electronic devices.

Industrial Design

Product identity, proportions, surfaces, materials and finishes for streamers, amplifiers, DACs, PC enclosures and other electronic devices. Design that reflects the product’s function and the character of the brand.

Mechanical Engineering

Chassis, panels, internal structures and fixings. Electronics integration, space allocation, tolerances and fits, with attention to assembly and component access.

Thermal Design

Heat dissipation, ventilation and internal layout considered from the earliest design stages, balancing thermal requirements with product design and space constraints.

Modular Platforms

Enclosures developed around custom solutions or standards such as Mini-ITX, accommodating the intended configurations and supporting their evolution on a common mechanical platform.

Design for Manufacturing

Materials and geometry selected with manufacturing processes, costs and assembly in mind. CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication and laser cutting, supported by supplier sourcing and production discussions.

CAD & Prototyping

Modelling and technical documentation using Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD: 3D models, drawings, bills of materials and assembly guides. Physical prototypes to check space allocation, fit and assembly.

03 HOW I WORK

From idea to production.

01
Brief & Requirements
We define the intended use, electronics, dimensions, design objectives, target costs and manufacturing constraints.
02
Concept & Design
I develop design proposals and photorealistic renders. Together, we assess alternatives and refine proportions, materials and finishes against the agreed objectives.
03
Development & Prototyping
Detailed mechanical design, thermal solutions and supplier discussions. Prototypes allow us to check assembly and integration and refine the design.
04
Production Support
Finalisation of technical drawings, bills of materials and assembly guides. Supplier support through the first builds and any necessary refinements.

04 FIRST STEPS

Where it all began.

My interest in hi-fi began as a teenager. Early DIY builds brought together a love of listening and a desire to shape the products themselves.

In 2008, I built my own version of the Aleph 5, the pure Class A amplifier designed by Nelson Pass. It was a substantial build, with large heatsinks, a toroidal transformer and a bank of capacitors. I drew its mechanical layout in Canvas, a graphics application: an early step on the path to 3D CAD design.

Those experiences developed into an increasing focus on the integration of electronics, mechanics and aesthetics. The same attention guides my work as a product designer today.

Aleph 5, my first DIY Class A amplifier build (2008)

Aleph 5 · 2008 01 / 08

05 ABOUT

Designed in Italy.

Alessandro Gornati

Product Designer · High-End Audio

As a child, I dreamed of designing cars. My interest in form, proportion and well-built objects later found a focus in hi-fi.

My career began on the shop floor, progressed into technical roles and led me into design, with experience across telecommunications, automation, IT and audio systems.

I developed my skills through self-directed study, professional experience and personal projects. This background shaped my approach to product development: considered design, an understanding of construction and close attention to mechanical details.

AudiophileBerry is the name of my independent design practice, focused on high-end audio and electronic devices. The logo reflects the same approach: three hexagonal shapes form a stylised berry, designed to be cut into a panel and backlit, as on the top cover of ONE.

06 CONTACT

Have a product to develop?

I work with audio brands and electronics companies to develop new products.
Based in Italy, I am available for remote collaboration worldwide.

Get in touch [email protected]