With the grand opening of Devialet’s flagship boutique at Dubai Mall on February 19th, the future of sound has arrived in the heart of the city. To mark the occasion, we sat down with Emmanuel Nardin, Devialet’s Product & Design Director, to uncover the magic behind the brand’s seamless fusion of aesthetics and acoustics. From the sculptural power of Phantom to inspiration drawn from ancient temples, Nardin reveals how Devialet continues to redefine the way we see, feel, and hear sound.
MUSIC CONSUMPTION HAS EVOLVED DRAMATICALLY—FROM VINYL TO STREAMING, IMMERSIVE AUDIO, AND AI-GENERATED SOUNDTRACKS. HOW DO THESE TRENDS INFLUENCE THE WAY YOU DESIGN DEVIALET PRODUCTS, BOTH IN TERMS OF AESTHETICS AND TECHNOLOGY?
At Devialet, design, technology, and manufacturing work together. Each step has an importance to deliver, at the end, a unique listening experience designed in each tiny detail. As an example, we design Phantom with this very unique spherical form: this is above all the best shape to diffuse sound, but its sleek design and refined finish have become an aesthetics signature at Devialet. The woofer’s physical movement allows not only to experience the strength of sound but also to see it and feel it in your bones. The object is a living beast designed to experience the sound. This perfect integration of shape and function embodies our relentless quest for excellence.
DEVIALET IS KNOWN FOR PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF SOUND. IF SOUND HAD A “VISUAL” DESIGN LANGUAGE, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE DEVIALET’S AESTHETIC?
My background in industrial design has contributed to defining a purposeful design approach for Devialet products. We create objects where each aesthetic choice enhances the technology and vice versa. This approach results in a perfect integration of the design and the function. Designers working with the engineers allow the team to push the boundaries of technological innovation while maintaining aesthetic and functional coherence. Each Devialet product becomes an object of desire that sets new standards in design and performance, offering an exceptional listening experience. Look at Phantom: the sound can be heard with extreme detail, seen in the characteristic movement of the Devialet woofers, and felt in your body through the infra-bass.
GREAT DESIGN OFTEN FEELS INVISIBLE. WHAT’S A SMALL BUT CRUCIAL DETAIL IN DEVIALET’S PRODUCTS THAT MOST PEOPLE MIGHT OVERLOOK?
A great design knows how to fade into the background, yet every detail matters. On the Devialet Phantom speaker, the tweeter grille perfectly embodies this philosophy. Its organic pattern, inspired by Chladni waveforms, strikes a perfect balance between acoustic engineering and design language. This detail echoes the symmetry and refinement of the French gardens designed by Lenôtre, where symmetry is the expression of aesthetic perfection.
WHAT’S THE MOST UNEXPECTED PLACE OR MOMENT THAT HAS INSPIRED A DESIGN BREAKTHROUGH FOR YOU?
One of my greatest inspirations came during a long journey through Asia while visiting the temples of Angkor. I was struck by the kapok trees, whose sprawling roots engulf the remnants of human architecture. Their presence—both massive and weightless—left a lasting impression on me. This contrast between strength and lightness, between grounding and elevation, directly inspired the design of the Treepod for Phantom I. Its lines embody this duality: a structure that feels solid, sculptural, yet retains an incredible lightness.
