Student project

The usefulness of uselessness

Designer
Jielin Chen
Education
Master
Subject area
Industrial Design
Focus area
Design for Play
Year
2022
Background
It looks like a table lamp but isn’t – and yet.

The usefulness of uselessness

Because it can certainly light up. You simply must wind it up first by twisting the little clockwork key placed on the side. You must wind it up again and again to make the lamp light up continuously. The mechanical, tactile can and the sound that occurs while twisting the key reminds us of our childhood toys. Something that can evoke special feelings. With this design, Jielin Chen wants to direct our attention to how play can bring value to something seemingly useless.