Cardboard Mechanics

Clean the Sky - Positive Eco Trends & Breakthroughs

Art Installation Uses Open Source Hardware to Control Movement

— June 20, 2010 — Art & Design
Cardboard Mechanics is an art and design installation created by four students of the Utrecht School of Art and Technology. The Amsterdam-based design and art team members are Saskia Freeke, Fin Kingma, Davy Jacobs, and Sonja van Vuur.

The Cardboard Mechanics installation is a clockwork machine built of cardboard and controlled by open source hardware called an Arduino. Arduino is an open source microcontroller board and free software used to make interactive objects.

Implications - Consumers are attracted to products they feel they can make themselves. Designs that utilize everyday materials appeal to shoppers who desire a closer connection to what they purchase. Corporations could focus on this element in order to increase their level of revenue.

Trend Themes

  1. DIY Design — Corporations can tap into the trend of consumers wanting to make their own products by providing DIY design options.
  2. Everyday Materials — Designers and manufacturers can capitalize on the appeal of using everyday materials in their products to create a closer connection with customers.
  3. Open Source Hardware — The use of open source hardware, like Arduino, presents opportunities for innovation in creating interactive objects.

Industry Implications

  1. Art and Design — Art and design industries can explore incorporating open source hardware and everyday materials to create unique and interactive installations.
  2. Consumer Goods — Manufacturers in the consumer goods industry can develop DIY design options that allow customers to customize their products using everyday materials.
  3. Education — The education industry can incorporate open source hardware like Arduino into the curriculum to teach students about interactive design and manipulation of everyday materials.
5.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness