Beats
Powerbeats Pro 2
Beats most advanced fitness headphone, the Powerbeats Pro 2. The redesigned headphone for athletes offers everything you need to train, conducting over 1,500 hours of rigorous testing with nearly 1,000 athletes, the result is Beats best-fitting headphone – ever.
The technical innovation on the headphones offers powerful sounding technology to match any training environment, with hyper-accurate heart rate monitoring, adaptive EQ, active noise cancelling, transparency mode and an improved ear hook to elevate performance.
Built for athletes
FutureDeluxe was tasked to showcase innovation and collaboration in a singular film using data as a visual driving force. Through dynamic live-action, elite athletic performance and a refined, fresh CGI aesthetic, a premium three-minute film was developed. Throughout the process, from pitch to research to the final film, the team explored the idea of utilising a mix of techniques, to emphasise motion and sound in unison.
To the limit
The film explores several chapters visualising the innovative product features with ambitious shots to keep the film vibrant.
FutureDeluxe explored a variety of techniques to envision the superiority and aerodynamic nature of the products, from phantom shots, scanning, blurs, thermal shots, and spinning rigs on the live-action shoot. The phantom shots emphasised the power of the athletes whilst wearing the headphones, allowing the definition of the muscles to show as they contract in slow motion.
Behind the design
The team approached the live-action shoot using our internal playground of FuturePlay to design the treatment working with a storyboard artist to conceptualise the shoot.
FuturePlay offered time to explore multiple options to then structure the storyboards. A test from touch designer was influential on the set design and the graphics seen throughout the film. The test was used as markings on the set to make it feel athletic and feel like a track/court. To complete the scene tracking devices and lighting were set up to add to the lab aesthetic.
Industrial design
The evolution of the Powerbeats Pro 2 is a significant upgrade from the first generation, emphasising the new design and fit. FutureDeluxe used orthographic views to show the advanced headphones from multiple perspectives, alongside details and measurements.
AI Depth Maps
Using footage of pro athletes—including Messi, LeBron, and Shotei—we generated depth maps with RunwayML. Then with these values inside of Houdini, we were able to extrude points and cull those in the background, converting a 2D grid of points into a 3D scene with real depth.
Scanning Transitions
We wanted to capture seamless transitions between moments within the film, the solution: A combination of on-set iPhone scanning and CG magic to create frozen moments in time. Rather than relying on traditional motion capture setups or full-body 3D scans in a studio, we took a more agile approach. Using an iPhone and Luma AI, we scanned each of our athletes directly on set, capturing them in mid-motion which created Gaussian splats. This allowed us to get incredibly detailed 3D models of their poses instantly, without disrupting the flow of the shoot.
Research and development
The team put extensive effort into the pitch, incorporating many different techniques that were refined through multiple iterations of research. Many of these insights shaped the final film, strengthening every aspect of the behind-the-design film. By blending live action with TouchDesigner and CGI, the new approaches enhanced its visual and technical execution.
Designed, Directed and Produced by FutureDeluxe
Creative Director: Raj Davsi
Senior Producer: Tiffany Brathwaite
Executive Producer: Maria Hanafy
Art Director: Martin Cusano
Design & Animation: Jake Wyand, Nick Bauer, Dagmar Irrig, Garett Gioia, Ewan Davidson, Yaro Svyatykh, Nick Scarcella, Chris Harrison
2D Motion Designer: James Spink
Modellers: David Rencsenyi, Alex Whyles
Edit: Matt Cronin
Sound Design: UP&AT’EM
Colour Grade: Harbor
Compositing: Igor Gama
Rotoscoping: Pavel Zakharov
Storyboard Artist: Sylvie Minios
Live Action production by Swanson Studio
DOP: Tyler Ashlock
Line Production: Wendy Bryant-Giles, Karina Lomelin Ripper, Madison Janke
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1ST ACs: Jared Rogers, Jesse Tobler
DP/2nd Shooter: Cameron Smith
Assistant Camera: Sam Ortega
DIT: Ben Molyneux
Gaffer: Cameron Briggs
Sports Trainer/Tech: Duray Thirdgill
Set Designer: Josh Soto
Wardrobe Stylists: Kim Miller & Maki Katsumoto
H/MU: Kylie Sallee
Assist HMU: Kendahl Robarts