If Only a person’s pocket worked like Amazon and Ikea...
Says James Burke of Acrylicize
Says James Burke of Acrylicize
Pockets are unassuming things that have been a common part of daily life for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. As a design solution they are simple: a compartment fixed to your clothing for storing items. No frills, no mechanics and no real evolution in their make up.
We can look to nature for our inspiration. A kangaroo pouch springs to mind for me. A simple and effective device for carrying a joey that offers protection all in one go. But the thing is, kangaroos don't have to deal with the 'stuff' that modern man has to. At any given time we might may be carrying a phone, a wallet and some loose change, tissues, some keys... and this is where things get tricky. Picture the scene: You are visiting the latest design show and queuing to get a coffee; you get to the checkout and you need £2.50 for that Americano, and so it begins. With the coffee in one hand your other dives into your pocket, performing a Houdini-like exercise to navigate past all the other contents. You reach the change at the bottom but as you bring it to the surface everything else is pulled out with it and you start having to catch items as they spill out.
The solution? We need the technology from Dr Who's Tardis to create a 'sorting office' inside the pocket. A place where everything can be compartmentalised and ordered, with departments assigned and the correct items brought to the surface easily and unobstructed.
Picture the vast sorting/distribution offices you might find at retail juggernauts such as Amazon and Ikea. Robots running up and down endless aisles then shooting up like forklifts, grabbing the correct item and navigating back to the surface. With this system there would be no more spillage, no more fumbling in pockets. Just quick access as and when required.
James Burke
James Burke is co-founder and creative director of art collective and consultancy Acrylicize. Established while James was at university in Manchester as an continuation of his final year project, the company now works with high-profile clients including Heinz, Google, British Airways, Mind Candy and stadiums, including Wembley and Twickenham.
Acrylicize creates bespoke art installations and schemes for interior spaces that tell a story, connecting and engaging the viewer with the space they're in. Its work explores the relationship between fine art, design, graphics, interior design and architectural features.
