ReCover スマートフォン再活用サービス by Anastasia Klimova

ReCover スマートフォン再活用サービス by Anastasia Klimova is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award 鉄賞 in サステナブル製品・プロジェクト・グリーンデザイン Competition Category.

鉄サステナブル製品· 2021

ReCover スマートフォン再活用サービス

by Anastasia Klimova

Client: Anastasia Klimova

A' Design Award 鉄賞 Winner in サステナブル製品 Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #115778

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About ReCover スマートフォン再活用サービス

ReCoverは、スマートフォンの所有者が使わなくなった携帯電話を、ウェブカメラ、防犯カメラ、タッチパッドなどの便利なデバイスへと生まれ変わらせることができるコンセプチュアルなサービスです。ReCoverアプリケーションが端末のハードウェアとファームウェアをスキャンし、その状態に応じて最適な選択肢を提案します。ユーザーがキットを注文すると、新しいオペレーティングシステムが端末を新たな役割に向けて準備します。端末は、射出成形されたリサイクルABS樹脂製のケースに収められます。ReCoverは古い携帯電話が埋立廃棄されるのを防ぎ、有用なハードウェアを低コストで提供します。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鉄賞

ReCover スマートフォン再活用サービスは、よく設計された創造物に期待される専門的・産業的要件を満たす優れたデザインに授与される、権威ある評価である A' Design Award 鉄賞の受賞作品です。鉄賞の受賞作品は、制作者の高い技量、高度な専門性、専門家としての理解、創造的な能力を示しています。ReCover スマートフォン再活用サービスは、高く評価され、称賛され、愛される、実用的で革新的な創造物であることが期待されます。この A' Design Award 鉄賞を受賞したデザインは、業界のベストプラクティスを統合し、ノウハウと才能に結びついた有能な技術的特性を備えています。ReCover スマートフォン再活用サービスは、その徹底ぶりで尊敬され、世界をより良い場所にするための生活の質の向上をもたらすよう設計されています。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: ReCover is a conceptual service offered by smartphone manufacturers that helps non-tech-savvy users to repurpose obsolete phones into useful devices. Intelligent ReCover app allows user to find a suitable repurpose solution. The service helps users to save phones from the landfill and acquire new useful hardware for less. ReCover is intended to be offered directly by device manufacturers who can profit from old devices by providing subscription-based services without developing new hardware.
Dimensions & Packaging: 132.5 x 181.5 x 22 mm (webcam),
171.5 x 45.5 x 80 mm (touchpad),
109 x 181.5 x 44 mm (security camera)
Tags: sustainability, technology, smartphone, e-waste, recycling, upcycling, service, affordable, webcam, security camera
Production Technology: ReCover hardware was designed to be extremely affordable and is made of injection moulded recycled ABS plastic, using off-the-shelf elements such as bi-coloured LED panels. On the inside, memory foam was used to make sure phones of a wide range of thicknesses can be secured. Other materials such as 70% transparent optical beamsplitter glass and extra thick 200gsm vellum were used to discretely conceive the smartphone inside the ReCover webcam and touchpad cases respectively.
Design Challenge: Fitting a wide range of phones of different sizes, camera and charging port locations was a significant challenge during this project's form development. Additional challenges included software integration across various phone manufacturers. Research conducted into complexities of jailbreaking and rooting led to the conclusion that the service will have to be offered by the company that released the original OS, which has opened up a possibility of a dedicated OS that would tailor the phone's system for the chosen repurpose solution.
Research: Market analysis, user interview and survey were used to gain research insight. My goal was to determine what kind of users were most likely to have old phones and what their needs were. Research has revealed that users in developed countries were more likely to hoard old technology devices. Millennials, this project's target market, were found to need simple and affordable repurpose solutions the most due to the combination of financial challenges, higher environmental awareness, and being the most DIY-averse demographic.
Inspiration: 7.1 billion smartphones have been produced since 2007. In the UK, only 12% of those went on to be recycled. 57% of Britons have old phones lying around, which amounts to staggering 125m devices. Most brands strive to offer more recycling options, but according to Ellen McArthur Foundation, repurpose is more sustainable since materials remain in use longer and less additional energy is spent. Old smartphones remain powerful electronic devices, and their potential inspired me to create ReCover.
Project Duration: This project has started in Nottingham, United Kingdom on 03 October 2020 and finished on 11 December 2020.
Operation Flow: User downloads ReCover app and launches intelligent hardware and firmware scan after which app gives user options of what their phone can become based on its condition. User orders the ReCover kit of their choice. When it arrives, the app erases current OS and installs new OS that optimises phone for its new role. It takes less than 5 minutes to put the phone in the ReCover case, set it up and start using as an entirely new product.
Team Members: Anastasia Klimova
Image Credits: Anastasia Klimova