LONDON — Earlier this month we brought you the story of a porcelain flowerpot that concealed a wireless router in its base. The concept revealed that we still think of tech and design as two separate spheres. This is why you have lived your entire online life with an ugly plastic router with LED lights that keep you up at night. There is so much untapped potential for objects that fulfill their various techy functions while not interfering with the visual presence of your home.
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As another example of this, we have these Charge Trays by Benjamin Hubert of Layer Design, partnered with Bitossi Ceramiche. They’re wireless charging stations rendered in contemporary ceramics with salt and matte finishes. Not only do they preform their function discreetly, they also create the impression of a well-ordered living or office space. These eliminate the sight of proprietary cords from Apple and Android phones, white cables that quickly become dirty and kinked as they hang thoughtlessly from an electrical outlet. They’re also a sight better than conventional wireless charging stations, which are more orderly but all have a very bland tech aesthetic (think Tron by way of a big box department store).
The trays made their debut at Milan Design Week this year and at Clerkenwell Design Week in May.
From the designer:
“Emerging technology can make the everyday easier. We understand, however, that it shouldn’t always feel or look highly technological.
“Designed for use in all areas of the home and office, Charge Trays enable convenient wireless charging of technology devices. The collection exudes high craft rather than high tech, reflecting the rich and varied palette of the ceramics industry to effortlessly disappear into the domestic environment.”
Reading the above makes me think we’re going to have an awkward few years before technology is seamlessly and artfully integrated into our daily lives. The comments about “disappearing” technology shouldn’t be the goal. The goal should be to give people more options, disappearing the sight of tech is one point on the spectrum, but I’d like to see more.
Bill Rodgers is the Managing Editor of cfile.daily.
Do you love or loathe this use of contemporary ceramics? Let us know in the comments.
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