--- title: "From the Museum: Early Gio console prototypes – et cetera..." description: Take dive into ETC product history with early concept models for the Gio console image: https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/8D120E34-216F-427A-8E3D-9E22265A828A-750x500.jpg --- - [ETCCONNECT](https://etcconnect.com/) - [ABOUT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/about) - [AUTHORS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/blog-authors) - [CONTACT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/contact) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/electronic-theatre-controls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.youtube.com/user/ETCVideoLibrary) [![EtCetera\_319x104](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EtCetera_319x104.png?width=319&height=104&name=EtCetera_319x104.png "EtCetera_319x104")](https://blog.etcconnect.com) [![ETC Blog](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EtCetera_319x104.png?width=319&height=104&name=EtCetera_319x104.png "ETC Blog")](https://blog.etcconnect.com) - [SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) - [ETC CULTURE](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/etc-culture) - [GEAR](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gear) - [LEARN](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/learn) - [ODDS & ENDS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/odds-ends) - [BRIGHT IDEAS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/bright-ideas) Search ## [![blog-header](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-header.png?width=476&height=155&name=blog-header.png "blog-header")](https://www.etcconnect.com) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/electronic-theatre-controls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.youtube.com/user/ETCVideoLibrary) [✕](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2018/02/monthly-museum-the-evolution-of-the-gio-prototype#gwen-offcanvas-primary) - [SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) - [ETC CULTURE](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/etc-culture) - [GEAR](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gear) - [LEARN](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/learn) - [ODDS & ENDS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/odds-ends) - [BRIGHT IDEAS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/bright-ideas) # From the Museum: Early Gio console prototypes ![Kate Foster](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/kate.png?width=34&height=34&name=kate.png)By [Kate Foster](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/kate-foster) 23 Feb 2018 ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/8D120E34-216F-427A-8E3D-9E22265A828A-750x500.jpg)   Welcome to the [Monthly(ish) Museum](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/from-the-museum), where we take a look into the historical lighting collection at ETC. In this entry, we’re keeping it in-house with a look at some industrial design prototypes for the Gio console. The [Gio console](https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Legacy/Console/Eos-Family/Gio/Features.aspx) is the fourth-born child of the Eos family (after Eos Classic, Ion Classic and Element), but it marked the beginning of an industrial design evolution within the family. The three previous desks had shared elements of a triangular, folded-looking profile (most associated with the Ion Classic and its fader wings), but the Gio was envisioned as a portable, touring console. It needed a sleeker profile. Ultimately, design elements of the Gio console would carry on into the next-generation Eos products, including the Eos Ti, Gio @5, the Ion Xe, and the Eos Programming, Motorized Fader and Fader Wings. ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gio_prod_72RGB.jpg?width=1024&height=504&name=Gio_prod_72RGB.jpg) Today we’ll be taking a look at some of the physical relics of the Gio console’s design process. Like most designs, it started with some visual research. Industrial designer John Hanesworth suggested a streamlined look for the desk’s profile, inspired by the folded angles and curves of a modern-architecture-based research image (points to anyone who can guess the building. Hint: it’s in New York City). Armed with a reference image and some concept sketches, CEO Fred Foster got to work in the wood shop. A lot of high-tech work goes into designing an ETC product, but simple wooden mock-ups have long been a staple of the process. As an example, take a look at this early model of the MicroVision FX: ![MicroVision FX model](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/218a-Wooden-Microvision.jpg?width=2848&height=2136&name=218a-Wooden-Microvision.jpg) Design model of the MicroVision FX. More to come on this in another post… ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gio-edges.jpg?width=240&height=319&name=Gio-edges.jpg) The ETC wood shop has advanced a bit since then. For the Gio prototype, Fred used a CNC router to model a number of details and options out of MDF. At right, you can see iterative mock-ups of possible edge curvatures, presided over by a Bobblehead Fred. Next came full-scale face panel models, also routed from MDF… ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/FB3CC0BA-3969-40BC-99F1-AF9523648D8F-1.jpg?width=985&height=554&name=FB3CC0BA-3969-40BC-99F1-AF9523648D8F-1.jpg) …refined, and assembled with keys and encoders… ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/332a-Geo-wooden-prototype-1.jpg?width=1400&height=788&name=332a-Geo-wooden-prototype-1.jpg) …and an articulated MDF monitor piece. ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Giomonitor.jpg?width=985&height=554&name=Giomonitor.jpg) Following a successful wooden model, iterative sheet metal mockups helped hone the design… ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/332d-Geo-prototypes.jpg?width=3000&height=4000&name=332d-Geo-prototypes.jpg) …until it evolved into the console we know today. ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/GioPrototypes.gif?width=800&height=533&name=GioPrototypes.gif) *What other bits of ETC history would you like us to share? Let us know in the comments or at [blog@etcconnect.com](mailto:blog@etcconnect.com)* - - - 0 [#Control](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/control) [#Gio](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gio) [#From the Museum](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/from-the-museum) [#Eos Family](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/eos-family) [#GEAR](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gear) [#ODDS & ENDS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/odds-ends) [#ETC history](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/etc-history) ### Secrets of Product Listing Part 3: “UL Listed” vs. “UL Recognized” [Previous article](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2018/03/product-listing-secrets-ul-listed-vs-ul-recognized) ### A peek inside the ETC swag bag [Next article](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2018/02/peek-inside-etc-swag-bag) [Kate Foster](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/kate-foster) ![Kate Foster](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/kate.png?width=180&height=180&name=kate.png) Kate joined ETC in 2012 after several years spent creating sets, props, and the occasional hack lighting design in the basement theaters of New York City. In addition to writing for ETC, she has worked on numerous in-house design projects, including tradeshow booths and the New York office’s Art Deco lobby. In her free time, Kate practices figure drawing, explores obscure corners of NYC, and pines for mountains. #### You may also like [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_4618-1-750x500.jpg)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/10/programming-pumpkins-for-a-halloween-extravaganza) [SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) ### [Programming pumpkins for a Halloween extravaganza](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/10/programming-pumpkins-for-a-halloween-extravaganza) By [Kate Foster](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/kate-foster) 10-Oct-2017 Fall is in the air in Croton-on-Hudson, NY, and the annual [Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze](https://www.hudsonvalley.org/events/blaze) event is underway…with thousands of pumpkins powered by a Gio console. [Read More](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/10/programming-pumpkins-for-a-halloween-extravaganza) [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/bw_flyhouse-750x500.jpg)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/05/josephine-marquez-explains-the-craft-of-theater-consulting) [SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) ### [Defending the integrity of a theater: Josephine Marquez on the craft of consulting](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/05/josephine-marquez-explains-the-craft-of-theater-consulting) By [Kate Foster](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/kate-foster) 4-May-2017 “Theaters are terribly complicated spaces,” says Josephine Marquez. As ETC’s National Specifications Manager, and as a long-time consultant in the industry, she would know. I sat down with Marquez... [Read More](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/05/josephine-marquez-explains-the-craft-of-theater-consulting) [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Maker-Faire-booth1_credit_Louis_Malagrino-750x500.jpg)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/02/teaching-lighting-maker-faire) [SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) ### [Teaching about light at NYC’s Maker Faire](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/02/teaching-lighting-maker-faire) By [Kate Foster](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/kate-foster) 9-Feb-2017 Whether they’re in the classroom or at the Maker Faire, Technical Artisans Collective makes it their business to teach NYC schoolkids about theater technology. [Read More](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/02/teaching-lighting-maker-faire) - [ETCCONNECT](https://etcconnect.com/) - [About](https://blog.etcconnect.com/about) - [Authors](https://blog.etcconnect.com/blog-authors) - [Links](https://blog.etcconnect.com/links) - [Contact us](https://blog.etcconnect.com/contact) [Privacy Policy & Legal Notices](https://www.etcconnect.com/Privacy-Policy-Terms-of-Use-and-Acceptable-Use.aspx) [CA Transparency Act & Transparency in Coverage](https://www.etcconnect.com/About/California-Supply-Chain-Transparency-Act.aspx) [Do Not Share My Personal Info](https://www.etcconnect.com/Do-Not-Share-My-Personal-Info/) [CA Privacy Rights](https://www.etcconnect.com/CA-Privacy-Rights/) ![ETC blog](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/ETC-logo_footer-wh.png)   ![ETC 50 anniversary](https://www.etcconnect.com/uploadedimages/Main_Site/Images/50yr_160x80.png "ETC 50 anniversary") [![ETC social networks](https://www.etcconnect.com/uploadedFiles/Main_Site/Images/social_Footer.png "ETC social networks")](https://www.etcconnect.com/Get-connected.aspx) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Kate Foster", "url" : "https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/kate-foster" }, "dateModified" : "2022-11-09T20:14:02.154Z", "datePublished" : "2018-02-23T06:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "From the Museum: Early Gio console prototypes – et cetera...", "image" : [ "https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/8D120E34-216F-427A-8E3D-9E22265A828A-750x500.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.etcconnect.com/2018/02/monthly-museum-the-evolution-of-the-gio-prototype", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Logos%20-%20Icons%20-%20Design%20Elements/ETC_4c.png" }, "name" : "ETC" } } ```