Guessing Game is Back!

What is this, a telescope? A sound machine? Hmmmm…it’s a Sony for sure!

Can anyone guess what this is?

Every year Sony holds a workshop for design students in China. Their current theme is ECONNECT, the emotional connection with products and environmental responsibilities like recycling. Keeping this in mind, designer Shen Hao Cheng, designed the Sony Echo, a device that records the life story of a secondhand product. The idea is that we all recycle our stuff, be it furniture or gadgets, and in its course with us, we tend to get emotionally attached to them. The Echo allows you to record your story with the product and the specifically devised stamp allows the new owner to retrieve significant information about the product.

Kinda like a biography of a special chair…mine will have to be these special loveseats that I bought for my marriage and they are now ready for a new home. Heck, the new owner will love to hear my stories for sure!

Designer: Shen Hao Cheng

Radhika Seth

Radhika Seth is a design and technology writer with over 18 years of experience covering products, innovation, and the ideas shaping design. She serves on the jury of international design competitions, including the iF Design Award, and hosts Yanko Design’s Design Mindset podcast. A former Ogilvy advertising professional, she has also taught Communication and Design Journalism, bringing together her experience across design, storytelling, brands, and media.

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