At L’École de design Nantes Atlantique, a group of design students decided to give these forgotten phones a new purpose. Their project, Rephone, explores how old smartphones can be repurposed by combining new software ideas with creative physical design. The result is a series of unique monotask objects, each dedicated to doing one thing well.
One team designed Timo, a daily clock with a retro look. Another turned an old phone into a discreet surveillance camera hidden in a lamp. For workplaces, students created a meeting room reservation device and a on-desk time tracker. For families, there are prototypes of a simple home phone, a children’s music player, and even a baby monitor.
Through this project, students strengthened their product design skills across both digital and physical disciplines, while also reflecting on the waste created by our constant appetite for new technology.
This is just the first step of the project. During an upcoming five-day workshop, students will push the concept further by developing new applications and use cases. All results will be shared as open-source resources.
The project was mentored by Philippe Nicolas and Martijn Verpaalen, based on an original idea by Gregory Eggermont and Martijn Verpaalen.
L’École de design Nantes Atlantique is a leading French design school where innovation meets sustainability. Students are encouraged to question habits, rethink materials, and design for a world that values creativity as much as responsibility.