# Cardboard Mechanics Art Installation Uses Open Source Hardware to Control Movement By Katie Cordrey | Published 2010-06-20 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardboard-mechanics References: [gizmodo](http://gizmodo.com/5565321/but-what-kind-of-box-was-this-huge-cardboard-machine-delivered-in) & [blog.makezine](http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/06/cardboard_mechanics.html) 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 Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.3/10 - Popularity: 57% | Activity: 93% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **DIY Design:** Corporations can tap into the trend of consumers wanting to make their own products by providing DIY design options. - **Everyday Materials:** Designers and manufacturers can capitalize on the appeal of using everyday materials in their products to create a closer connection with customers. - **Open Source Hardware:** The use of open source hardware, like Arduino, presents opportunities for innovation in creating interactive objects. ### Who This Affects Most - **Art and Design:** Art and design industries can explore incorporating open source hardware and everyday materials to create unique and interactive installations. - **Consumer Goods:** Manufacturers in the consumer goods industry can develop DIY design options that allow customers to customize their products using everyday materials. - **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. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cardboard-Inspired Ceramic Household Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardboard-collection.md) - [Kinetic Art Objects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/la-machine.md) - [Cardboard Airplane Builds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardboard-airplane.md) - [Upcycled Waste Material Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardboard-furniture-design.md) - [Ergonomic Cardboard Seat Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardboard-chair-process-book.md) - [Cardboard Box-Transformed Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/box-exhibition.md) - [Recycled Guitar Prototypes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardboard-guitar-1.md) - [Cardboard Box Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/karton-furniture-collection.md) - [Accessibility-Focused Coffee Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/innovative-coffee-machine.md)