Sonos Design Book
Design Systems & CMF
CMF Lead — Design Systems / 2024
The Sonos Design Book as a physical object
The Sonos Design Book was created as a physical expression of how Sonos designs. Neither a style guide nor a set of rules, it captures the intent behind the brand’s material choices, restraint, and approach to products that live in the home. Designed to be handled, referenced, and lived with, the book reflects the belief that design is felt as much as it is seen.
Design systems endure when they capture intent,
not just aesthetics.
Designed to live alongside other enduring references
Quiet presence within the home
Product strategy articulated through material and tone
Principles designed to guide decisions, not constrain them
As Sonos’ product portfolio and teams expanded, alignment became less about defining what products should look like and more about how decisions should be made. The Design Book emerged as a shared reference—one that could align internal teams and external partners around principles rather than prescriptions, supporting clarity while leaving room for evolution.
Hardware UI principles defined through clarity and restraint
Craft materials introduce warmth and tactility
The book was designed with the same discipline applied to Sonos products. Black and white pages establish hierarchy and pacing, while craft paper sections introduce warmth and tactility. Paper stock, binding, and print finishes were selected to feel calm, durable, and deliberate—reinforcing longevity over novelty.
Designed to be handled, referenced, and revisited
Design principles grounded in everyday life
Rather than documenting a fixed aesthetic, the Design Book articulates how Sonos thinks—about sustainability, hardware interaction, material honesty, and in-home context. These principles form a flexible framework that supports consistency across product families without constraining innovation.
Principles designed to guide decisions, not constrain them
A cohesive system, expressed across volumes
Designed to live in studios, on shelves, and on desks, the book became a daily touchstone. It supported clearer conversations, faster alignment, and more confident decision-making across Industrial Design, CMF, Engineering, and partners—helping Sonos’ design language evolve without losing its character.
Designed to live comfortably in the home
Good design is understood, not enforced.
(Left photo)
From concept to artifact
(right photo)
The Mason studio entrance
The moment the books arrived marked the transition from concept to artifact. Printed, bound, and distributed, the Design Book became part of the company’s physical culture—designed to age thoughtfully, just like the products it supports.
The people behind the principles, building shared understanding.
By codifying intent rather than appearance, the Sonos Design Book helps future-proof the brand’s physical design language. It stands as a quiet but enduring system—supporting clarity, craft, and continuity across generations of products.