# Self-Assembling Smartphones MIT's 'Self-Assembly Lab' is Reimagining the Manufacturing Industry By Joey Haar | Published 2016-08-22 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selfassembly-lab References: [fastcodesign](http://www.fastcodesign.com/3062765/from-mit-a-cell-phone-that-builds-itself) & [selfassemblylab.net](http://www.selfassemblylab.net/) [MIT's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/speech-to-reality) 'Self-Assembly Lab' is a division of the world-renowned technological institute that is devoted to eliminating itself. The lab, run by Skylar Tibbits, is working on creating products and materials that create themselves. The Self-Assembly Lab has already created self-building furniture and self-tying shoes using special materials that rely on the innovations found in natural processes like DNA generation. The lab's most recent product is taking on a competitive industry: tech. Specifically, it has created a prototype of a [mobile phone that can assemble itself](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-project-ara) when agitated. More than just a phone with magnetic parts, the Self-Assembly Lab phones can have multiple parts dropped into a spinning vat, and, within minutes, the multiple phones will have assembled themselves, with the right piece for each phone falling into place. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.5/10 - Popularity: 59% | Activity: 69% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Self-assembly Technology:** The trend of self-assembly technology offers disruptive innovation opportunities by enabling the creation of products and materials that can autonomously build themselves. - **Automated Manufacturing:** The trend of automated manufacturing presents disruptive innovation opportunities by streamlining the production process and reducing labor costs through the use of self-assembly technology. - **Efficient Product Assembly:** The trend of efficient product assembly provides disruptive innovation opportunities by revolutionizing the way products are manufactured and assembled, saving time and resources. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Electronics:** The electronics industry can benefit from self-assembly technology by creating products that can assemble themselves, simplifying manufacturing processes. - **Furniture:** The furniture industry has the potential to be disrupted by self-assembly technology, allowing for easy and quick assembly of furniture pieces without the need for complex instructions or tools. - **Footwear:** The footwear industry can leverage self-assembly technology to create shoes that can self-tie or assemble, providing convenience and customization options for consumers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Voice-Led Fabrication Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/speech-to-reality.md) - [Wacky Design Smartphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/playful-phone-experimentation.md) - [Detachable Component Smartphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modular-smartphone-design.md) - [Adaptable Tech Hardware](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hone-pro.md) - [Modular Component Smartphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soul-phone-concept.md) - [Self-Shaping Wooden Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hygroshape.md) - [3D-Printed Modular Phone Cases](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modular-sliding-system.md) - [Resurrected Used Smartphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/project-afterlife.md) - [Multifunctional Foldable Mobile Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/move-mobile-device.md)