“I improved trash cans…
The trash can is like no other. It is bigger than some bit it has a computer inside that reads the bar codes of the food you throw away and makes a shopping list. Then for fruits and vegetables in regular bags it seeks the smell and could tell what it is. It has a de-stinker so it does not stink. When you press the list button on the outside a list is printed with the total cost of everything included. Price $800. It has wheels to move it on. When it gets full it has hands that come and close the bag, then it wheels itself to the porch.” — Sarah, age 7
My seven-year-old imagination created a sign of things to come! More than twenty years later you can now buy real trashcans, such as Genican or Townew with some of these very features!
Creating speculative designs has always been a way for me to look at my surroundings, identify things that could be improved, and get creative about fixing them. Now, I lead design ideation sessions for corporate executives and innovation teams to help break out of stale thinking patterns and discover unexpected solutions to big, thorny challenges.