2025

Design Awards Silver Winner - Whisper Aero Inc.

Tone T1 Handheld Leaf Blower

Entrant

Whisper Aero Inc.

Category

Tools - Garden Tools

Client's Name

Whisper Aero

Country / Region:

United States

The Tone T1 is the world’s quietest high-performance handheld leaf blower. It brings aerospace-grade propulsion to outdoor life, adapting Whisper Aero’s UltraQuiet™ technology into a manufacturable, consumer-friendly format. The task was clear: deliver professional-grade air movement without the deafening noise of traditional blowers. The result is a product that’s not only quieter, but more efficient, emotionally resonant, and respectful of the spaces we share.

We wanted to design a groundbreaking handheld leaf blower that stood apart not only in performance but in design. We distilled it to its core parts: flow path, battery, handle, and rebuilt the architecture from the ground up. This resulted in a rear-slotted battery cocooned by a Y-shaped closed-loop handle, integrated into the body's architecture. Drawing from aerospace and automotive surfacing, we created elegant surfaces typically not seen in outdoor products. Our green "Canyon Sage" CMF was developed to blend naturally into outdoor environments.

The Tone T1 delivers 880 CFM and 154 mph peak airflow with half the noise of leading blowers. This is possible through Whisper’s propietary high blade-count propulsion technologies, which shifts noise into near-ultrasonic frequencies. The ToneShift™ scroll-based UI, driven by the Power Dial, gives users five clearly defined speed levels — designed for simplicity and control, offering intuitive adjustments without the complexity of screens or modes.

The Tone T1 is the first leaf blower born from aerospace technologies and designed by NASA engineers to deliver stellar performance and UltraQuiet™ acoustics. The T1 solves a problem many believed to be impossible — quiet leaf blowing performance at any time of day. Radically rethought from its architecture to its aesthetics, the T1 redefines expectations for outdoor tools with a thoughtful approach that protects our serenity and peace.

Tone intends to take the same approach in its T1 to other products. Future Tone air-moving products will set a new standard for outdoor products, shaped by precision engineering and human-centered intent.

Credits

Johad Ellis
Industrial Designer/Whisper Aero
Andrew Terajewicz
Director, Air Management/Whisper Aero
Kenneth Shafer
Lead Product Development Engineer/Whisper Aero
Kael Seaver
Technical Program Manager/Whisper Aero
Bridget Boylan
Marketing and Communications Manager/Whisper Aero
Ian Villa
COO & Co-Founder/Whisper Aero
Mark Moore
CEO & Co-Founder/Whisper Aero
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