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His combined knowledge of
biology and industrial design,
gained at Brown University
and the Rhode Island School of
Design Dual Degree Program,
prompted us to approach ELI
BLOCK for ‘The Challenge’.
tion, colours and so on. Overall, the system is
designed to be dynamic – to be built, rebuilt
and modified. Monitors come in a range of
materials, including natural and synthetic
stone types, whereas the rest of the compo-
nents – such as hinges, joints, connecting
bars, screws, foam pads and feet – come in 20
different colours. It’s based on the principle
that no two computers need to be alike –
formally or functionally. Landscape gives the
user agency to create and experiment.
In terms of its shape, Landscape resembles
today’s current computers. What happens
when technology becomes more invisible –
more integrated into our surroundings?
We’ve seen significant movement in this
direction already, from wearables and
watches to TVs and computers inset into
walls. Still, the trope of the desktop computer
is so iconic that I consider it worth honour-
ing. Landscape is meant to be bold, so it made
sense to unapologetically reference a classic
design while departing significantly from
certain traditional elements. I think we’ll see
more interesting designs for our technologi-
cal devices moving forward; I predict a radia-
tion of new forms – a Cambrian Explosion,
to borrow from biology. The paradigm of the
silver-and-black rectangle can stretch only
so far, and I think designers will continue to
explore alternatives, especially when consid-
ering the environments in which we live.
I hope that computers will soon have forms
as diverse as chairs do today. – TI
eli-block.com
Monitors come in a range of
materials, including natural and
synthetic stone types, whereas
the rest of the components –
such as hinges, joints, connecting
bars, screws, foam pads and feet
- come in 20 different colours.
THE CHALLENGE 41