Description

With a nostalgia for the technologies of the past, RElectronics seeks to reimagine the relationship between electronics and their users. Our series began by selecting three classic electronics, including the electric fan, rotary phone, and gramophone, which are gradually disappearing from modern homes. Through creative computations, we transformed these items to interact with people in alternative ways, breathing new life into old electronics.

Tool

Arduino, Fabrication, Spray Paint

Role

Conceptual design, creative diretion, physical computation, fabrication, visual design


︎Collaborated with Roi Ye, Chun Song︎

“Re” means reborn, remade, refresh, renew. And rethink.

We aim to encourage our viewers to re-examine the relationship between electronics and humans by immersing themselves in our project, and to expand their imaginations in the process.

An electric fan turns into a turntable

We really jazzed up the turntable with some sweet new features! We added a nifty switch to crank up the tunes, and we kept the trusty button on the original fan to control the volume of the new turntable. Our user experience design was top-notch - we seamlessly integrated the human and machine interactions from both the OG fan and the turntable we aimed to transform. Get ready to dance your socks off!

A set of three rotary phones turns into a whack-a-mole-game

We really spiced things up with the new interaction design for the old machine! We dug deep into our imaginations, added a dash of humor, and applied some wicked game design logic. And to take the fun to the next level, we threw in a massive smile button - because who doesn't love a good smile? As the game progresses, get ready for some serious adrenaline-pumping action, like the telemarketing operator in 20th centuray. It's fast, it's furious, and it's downright challenging. Let's go;)

A gramaphone turns into a bubble machine

We can't deny the convenience of the modern single button that replaced the old hand-cranked mechanical handle on the gramophone. But let's be real, there's something undeniably charming about the good old-fashioned human-machine interaction that the handle provided. It may have required some elbow grease, but it added a special touch to the experience that still makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

And don't even get us started on the gramophone itself! The thing is an absolute work of art - the intricate design and larger-than-life size leave us in awe of the creativity and ingenuity of the past. So we knew we had to keep the handle and give it a new purpose - creating bubbles manually! Yup, you heard that right - we made the bubbles emerge from the flower-shaped hole of the gramophone. It's our way of paying homage to a classic design from a time when technology was still in its infancy. And let's be real, these designs continue to captivate us to this day. Who knew bubbles and gramophones could be such a match made in heaven?

We went on a few treasure hunts to old electronic stores and factories, which turned out to be quite thought-provoking for us. Why do we find abandoned and obsolete machines so attractive? What motivates us to interact and play with a machine that may not be functional at all?

Is it because the history behind it piques our curiosity? Is it because we want to recall the good old times through it? Is it because its inefficiency makes it more human-like and evokes our empathy? Is it because it inspires us to imagine an alternative world with more romance than the real one? Is it because...?

This project doesn't provide a definitive answer to our question because it's difficult to define a single reason. However, it shows the process of trying to understand our complicated feelings towards old electronics and provides viewers with serious fun.

• ITP Winter Show 2019

• Commierate Chicago 2020

• Parsons School of the design,  Guest Speech at Allan Wexler’s Product Design Class 2020