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?
budrew
Dear all,
There were those beautiful early Threshold Stasis equipment designed by 'then' co-founder of the company, an industrial designer called Rene Besne.
Mark Levinson, the man who were also personally involved in styling all the early Mark Levinson Audio System equipment and later the even more outrageous Cello equipment. It has to be said that the man had incredible taste and a superb eye for detail without any formal design training. I wonder who designed the logos for him. Does anybody know out there?
As for the eye-poppingly gorgeous Jeff Rowland Design Group Coherence preamplifier; it was designed by a one David Carter Associates (it light have origins from Britain?). It is so good that it was nominated for an award for industrial design in the US Design magazine, I. D. Annual Award 1998.
There are more info about other top U. S. equipment but I have to look them up again since my memory is fading fast!
Best regards to you all.
Pathos Acoustics makes some of the prettiest amps on the market in my opinion. All of their amps are very distinctive. Especially notice the heatsinks on the Logos Integrated - very cool. I believe one of the companies founders does the case design work.

Jeff Rowland Design Group also has a very cool appearance. Not sure if it is Jeff Rowland who come up with the case design or not. In tube gear, I like Wavelength's chassis design, which I would guess is from Gordon Rankin's head. Nice, but understated chrome and wood appearance.
I like plain and beefy looking amps... like Plinius or Bryston!! Top notch all the way!!
Gee, I thought Chrysler has designed some of the nicest looking vehicles on the road in the past decade or so.