(Un)necessary gadgets. Between meeting needs and creating them

Diploma project

(Un)necessary gadgets. Between meeting needs and creating them

This collection of gadgets emerged from an experiment in which the author uncritically listened to people’s declared problems and then designed products that addressed them precisely. A cup gasket prevents spills when pouring. A bottle stand is shaped to ensure its contents fully drain. A gripper helps pick up dirty cutlery without touching it.

These objects might easily be dismissed or criticized as unnecessary—as failing to meet any real need. But do such “authentic” needs even exist? What determines which needs designers treat as important, and which they disregard? How much of our desire for certain products is driven by real necessity—and how much by the seductive power of design? The author doesn’t offer clear answers—only ambiguity.