PEBBLE : Media Player // roll over images on the left

Current product experiences and manufacturing processes do not have much relationship with the nature or us humans. It is inspiring to look at how nature “produces” stones and trees and flowers, how they become what they are. Each natural “product” is a unique specimen; nothing else compares to one, after another. What if the manufacture of consumer products afforded such diversity. What if consumers had the chance pick of an endless array of devices, each one its own distinct shape, size and color while keeping the internal components the same.

Restoring the link between the products of nature and the products of industry by reconnecting us with the bewildering diversity that defines both nature and ourselves

What if products could take on the diversity of nature? What if products embodied twists and contours, and off-colored spots? What if a line of media players, say, could be designed to resemble an array of pebbles scattered along an ocean’s shore? Or like a basketful of heirloom tomatoes at a farmers’ market? Imagine the possibilities of mass customizing with such diversity in mind How would it change the way we interact with devices? How would it change the experience of consumption? How would it impact the human-product relationship?

The state of things now: sameness sits on assembly lines; sameness lives on shelves; sameness is in hands of consumers. Sameness is the way humans set up their way of modern industry. Need it be this way – where color is the only distinguishing feature? Why not tackle design in deeper and more natural ways? Rather than considering a product as one of many, diversify the multiple existing molds and consider product a little more freely. Need each be a clone of the other? Why not envision production methodology anew, as a result of more organic processes? Just imagine: a near future where we still make a single product in large volumes, but we do so more randomly, intuitively, eclectically. This way, with advanced manufacturing techniques, consumers are offered more choice within a single product category.
Experience more: download the NONOBJECT App