Homes are becoming more and more popular these days, mostly thanks to the new generation of internet-connected devices scattered across the property. Many of these devices try to disguise themselves as part of your room’s interior design, like smart speakers that try to capture our visual and auditory attention, but most of these devices don’t apologize for looking part of a technical object. This doesn’t have to be the case, of course, and there are many ways to better integrate these devices into what look like everyday household objects and accessories. This is exactly the proposal that Deutsche Telekom Design offers through LAYER, making interior design an integral part of product design and not an afterthought.
Designer: Benjamin Hubert (LAYER Design)
It is not difficult to identify appliances and “smart appliances” within the room. Even smart speakers that try to be stylish and eye-catching don’t always blend well with their surroundings. Then there are devices that don’t even try to hide their existence and advertise their true nature. Routers and network routers are the biggest culprits here, looking like strange structures inside a cozy dwelling, but wireless set-top boxes and amplifiers are sometimes just as bad.
This visual and design contrast is no small feat when it comes to creating the right atmosphere for your home. There are psychological consequences of visual clutter as well as the unpleasant feeling that everything does not correspond to the desired aesthetics. Fortunately, this does not have to be the case, especially with current technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes. This is the kind of smart home that Deutsche Telekom is trying to offer with this “eclectic family” of connected devices that are more like decor than tech products.
At the top of this list is the router, which actually looks more like a desk mirror. In fact, it works as one when the router screen is not active. Even so, it only displays text instead of icons and images, making it a very simple piece of technical equipment. Joining it is a lattice repeater masquerading as the ornament of a standing wooden bowl. They may even resemble some smart thermostats when hung on the wall, except without extraneous details and interfaces.
The receiver/speaker contains telltale signals for the audio device, mostly due to the typical fabric-like surface that characterizes nearly all loudspeakers. However, its simple design and text-based display still make it a good candidate for interior design accessories. However, an interesting part of the product is the accompanying webcam which is no bigger than a can of tuna. There is also a more typical decoder that does not look like a box at all. Instead, it looks like a ceramic bowl that is carefully displayed in the living room.
In addition to the designs themselves, this Home Harmony connection concept also attempts to steer the ship toward more sustainable shores. Electronics are often made using plastic and non-friendly materials, but the use of wood, ceramics and alternative materials will help make these things not only blend in visually but also become a better part of people’s lives at home.
