Recomposing E-Waste

Many people want to have the latest gadgets, from phones to synthesizers. As a result, older models are quickly labelled as waste. But one man's trash is another man's treasure. In the Recomposing E-Waste project, Waag Futurelab and its partners are investigating how discarded smartphones can be transformed into digital musical instruments.

In te project Recomposing E-Waste, Waag is collaborating with the Willem de Kooning Academy, Codarts University of the Arts, postmarketOS, Fairphone, ThePhoneLab and FIBER Foundation to develop a prototype digital musical instrument made from old smartphones and other reusable materials. With this project, Waag is focusing on developing circular design and research strategies for artists, designers and musicians who work with digital technology. By combining creativity with circularity, this research contributes to extending the lifespan of electronic products and reducing material use and waste (e-waste) that often accompany digital production.

Waag and Willem de Kooning Academy develop a workshop in Waags FabLab to design digital musical instruments, such as synthesizers, from existing materials. We are testing this workshop with a group of makers and musicians. In addition, Waag is placing this creative practice within larger social developments, such as circularity and regenerative technology (read about regenerative technology).