Timothy Wikander
Amplifier Dock
Instructables.com
Amplifier Dock
Designed for disassembly, Amplifier Dock is comprised of maple hardwood, wool felt, and steel hardware components.
Amplifier Dock
Amplifier Dock is a passive amplifier and docking solution for iPhone and iPod touch that utilizes the shape and material of an ordinary ceramic bowl. Designed for disassembly, Amplifier Dock is comprised of maple hardwood, wool felt, and steel hardware components.
2. The Brief: Summarize the problem you set out to solve. What was the context for the project, and what was the challenge posed to you?Create a DIY docking solution for iPhone and iPod touch that disrupts the throw away nature of modern tech accessories.
3. The Intent: What point of view did you bring to the project, and were there additional criteria that you added to the brief?Aware of the fast moving market of tech gadgets, I wanted to create a simple, useful, and beautiful tech accessory that would never end up in a landfill. Going into the project from a DIY perspective, I was mindful of keeping the process accessible and repeatable.
4. The Process: Describe the rigor that informed your project. (Research, ethnography, subject matter experts, materials exploration, technology, iteration, testing, etc., as applicable.) What stakeholder interests did you consider? (Audience, business, organization, labor, manufacturing, distribution, etc., as applicable)Much of the design behind Amplifier Dock came from observing how people use mobile devices today. I saw people cupping their hands around internal speakers to direct sound, using portable speakers to take music libraries to new places, and using mobile devices as daily alarm clocks. Using a bowl for passive amplification was decided early on, as it was a readily accessible object and it provided an ideal shape for a small passive amplifier. The design soon became driven by planned disassembly. This meant holding the bowl and mobile device in position, while keeping the bowl in an unmodified state. Prototyping lead to the final clamp design, which is cut from a single piece of 3/8" hardwood.
5. The Value: How does your project earn its keep in the world? What is its value? What is its impact? (Social, educational, economic, paradigm-shifting, sustainable, environmental, cultural, gladdening, etc.)An object does not have to be long lasting in order to be sustainable. In such a fast paced industry, it does not make sense to make things that will last forever. Amplifier Dock illustrates the difference between planned obsolescence and planned design.
6. Did the context of your project change throughout its development? If so, how did your understanding of the project change?I created Amplifier Dock as an open source DIY project on Instructables.com. http://www.instructables.com/id/Amplifier-Dock/
We love that you could toss it in your bag and amplify music anywhere using whatever bowl you have access to. We like the idea of creative reapplication of everyday objects.