ReCover 智能手機再利用服務 by Anastasia Klimova is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award 鐵獎 in 可持續產品設計 Competition Category.

鐵可持續產品· 2021

ReCover 智能手機再利用服務

by Anastasia Klimova

Client: Anastasia Klimova

A' Design Award 鐵獎 Winner in 可持續產品 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 智能手機再利用服務

ReCover係一項概念性服務,俾智能手機用戶可以將舊手機轉變成有用嘅裝置,例如網絡攝影機、保安攝影機或者觸控板。ReCover應用程式會掃描手機嘅硬件同韌體,然後根據手機嘅狀況建議合適嘅方案。用戶落單訂購套件之後,一套新嘅操作系統就會將手機重新設定,俾佢執行新嘅功能。手機會放入用注塑成型再造ABS膠製成嘅外殼入面。ReCover令舊手機唔使被送去堆填區,同時以低廉嘅成本提供實用嘅硬件。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鐵獎

ReCover 智能手機再利用服務是 A' Design Award 鐵獎得主，這是授予滿足人們對設計精良的創作所期待的專業與工業要求的優良設計的聲望認可。鐵獎得主展現出其創作者的高超技藝、高度專業化、專家級的理解力和創造能力。預計ReCover 智能手機再利用服務將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的創作，既實用又創新。這件贏得 A' Design Award 鐵獎的設計整合了行業最佳實踐，並擁有與專業知識和才華相結合的稱職技術特性。ReCover 智能手機再利用服務因其嚴謹而受到尊重，旨在提供有助於讓世界變得更美好的生活品質改善。

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