Hey Pbb, I sure wish someone would design some components with the huge tailfins of the early 60's Chryslers and DeSotos. Yeh baby!
Who designs casework for audio components?
Are there industrial design firms that specialize in designing audio component casework? How many manufacturers design their own products in-house? The design of the casework is an important part of brand recognition/appeal and unless cost is an extremely important factor it deserves serious attention. Lots of factors to think about: dimensions, shape, color, materials used, layout, user interface, etc. Who does the design work?