Project Streams

What if designing a laptop to be compatible with the existing recycling system?

01/ Concept

"Project Streams is a transparent laptop design, where the colour of internal components represent their respective recycling channels.

This visualization aids recycling personnel in more efficiently categorizing and recycling the laptop. Aesthetically, the use of a transparent casing makes sustainability information easily perceivable to consumers, reducing the information gap between consumers and producers while also creating a stylish appearence."

02/ Motivation

Project Streams is an exploration journey into sustainable laptops. I aspire to begin with the end in mind, approaching laptop design from a fresh and original perspective to create more possibilities for the future of sustainable consumer electronics.

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03/ Research-Driven Design

Methodology 1.

Object Auptocy

Firstly, I chose model X1702 as a potential candidate for incorporating sustainable practices and began the process of disassembling it, intending to observe the object at a smaller scale. I've listed several questions for further in-depth research in the future, like → How to identifying toxic components?  → The challenges in disassembly? → How to recycle mixed materials? etc.

Methodology 2.

Field Trip

With my curiosity about the Object Auptocy in mind, I took advantage of an opportunity provided by our company to visit a laptop recycling facility and personally observe the end-of-life of laptop.

As we zoom in on the product's end-fo-life, we discover an interesting and crucial insight: The colour of the product/components has a significant impact on recycling efficiency.

Methodology 3.

Constellation - Mapping & Openning up the Territory

After visiting recycling spots and combining it with Asus's internal sustainability actions, I created a laptop constellation within the framework of the product lifecycle — having a holistic understanding throughout the object to identify potential design intervention.

Through systematic thinking, we have realized that
→ Working backward from the recycling stage to product design was the most effective leverage point to promote sustainable innovation and differentiate ourselves from competitors.

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Recycling is already quite efficient, but where it is not efficient, often it is because of design.
- Formafantasma

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05/ Outcome

→ Project Streams distinguishes objects of different materials and waste streams through visual means.
→ From the perspective of recycling facilities, this allows for a more intuitive sorting and recycling process.
→ From a consumer perspective, this approach reduces the perception of consumer electronics as "black boxes" that are difficult to understand and recycle.

By incorporating visual cues such as color differentiation in product design, consumrs can easily identify the materials used and the corresponding recycling waste streams. This transparency helps bridge the information gap between consumers and companies, instilling a sense of trust and confidence in the product's sustainability.