Hacking Households Designs Appliances Like One Would Software
Jamie Danielle Munro — October 1, 2014 — Art & Design
References: hackinghouseholds & designboom
Hacking Households has come up with a system at the BIO 50 event whereby people can take household appliances and repurpose them for other uses.
The inspiration for the project came from how software is often taken by people and disassembled to see what improvements can be done, and what other purposes these things can serve. As such the Hacking Households team took the same approach to this project, and "the team has realized a series of fans, a hand mixer, and a balloon-encased lamp, in which to exemplify the proposed vision," states DesignBoom. While many would normally look at these objects simply for their intended purpose, the team pushes people with this project to think about what more can be done, and how important it is to exercise the imagination.
Photo Credits: designboom, hackinghouseholds
The inspiration for the project came from how software is often taken by people and disassembled to see what improvements can be done, and what other purposes these things can serve. As such the Hacking Households team took the same approach to this project, and "the team has realized a series of fans, a hand mixer, and a balloon-encased lamp, in which to exemplify the proposed vision," states DesignBoom. While many would normally look at these objects simply for their intended purpose, the team pushes people with this project to think about what more can be done, and how important it is to exercise the imagination.
Photo Credits: designboom, hackinghouseholds
Trend Themes
1. Open-sourced Appliances - Allowing customers to take household appliances and repurpose them for other uses presents an opportunity for companies to develop open-source models of their products and create a community of creative and innovative consumers.
2. Household Appliance Hacking - Incorporating design features for 'hacking' and repurposing appliances offers companies an opportunity to tap into the growing trend of consumers wanting more control over their products and reducing waste.
3. Software-inspired Product Disassembly - Taking apart products and identifying areas for innovation as software is done could encourage businesses to design more modular products that are easy for consumers to dismantle, maintain and upgrade.
Industry Implications
1. Consumer Electronics - Consumer electronics companies can leverage the trend of open product innovation by designing more modular and easily-disassembled devices that customers can customize and upgrade.
2. Sustainability - The rise of repurposing and 'hacking' household appliances presents an opportunity for businesses to adopt more sustainable practices by creating durable, multi-functional products that reduce waste.
3. Home Furnishing & Accessories - Incorporating design features in home furnishings that allow customers to repurpose and 'hack' could create opportunities for companies to tap into the DIY and maker movements.
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