Apart from being puffy, I’d say it’s pretty much amorphous—or rather its shape changes all the time. I can make it really small but I can also stretch it. Its texture is soft and delicate. Technically, it’s a small object as it easily fits in my hand but then I guess comparatively to other scrunchies it is quite big. It’s white and light blue. It doesn’t really have a temperature but somehow it kinda feels warm in my hand. It has a little tag with the name of the brand embroidered on it as well.

How is the object designed to interact with your body or hand?

It is designed to hold my hair together. I guess it is also designed so that I wear it on my wrist/carry it with me.

What does the object mean to you?

I guess it’s mainly a functional object but there is also an emotional value attached to it.

Is it dead or alive?

Interesting question. Technically it is dead, but the memories associated to it makes me feel like it’s alive (weird, I know).

What is its relationship to nature?

It’s made of cotton so I guess technically it comes from nature (after lots of transformation processes, of course). 

What is its relationship to industry?

It was certainly designed by the brand and then manufactured by them/a subcontractor in the textile industry (don’t know how they operate) so I guess it’s the outcome of the work of several industrial actors. 

What is the history of your object?

I don’t know about the history of the object in itself (like when it was first designed etc.) but I guess I can share my history in relation to it—super corny, you’re warned. I used to wear the exact same crunchy as a child but I eventually lost it or gave it away. Then a couple years ago I came across one of the brand’s stores and realized they were still making them so I bought it again. That’s it. 

What is the future of your object?

Will keep on using it to tie up my hair as long as it lasts. 

Victoire

 

The patenting of ferrocerium (often misidentified as flint) by Carl Auer von Welsbach in 1903 has made modern lighters possible. When scratched, it produces a large spark which is responsible for lighting the fuel of many lighters, and is suitably inexpensive for use in disposable items.

 

In the 1950s, there was a switch in the fuel of choice from naphtha to butane, as butane allows for a controllable flame and has less odour.This also led to the use of piezoelectric spark, which replaced the need for a flint wheel in some lighters and was used in many Ronson lighters.

There are already "lighters" that ignite cigarettes or other objects by heating a heating wire with electricity, which is charged to ensure energy. I think the lighter of the future may be more durable, smaller, and safer to use than gas.


Abel

How is the object designed to interact with your body or hand? - has been cut to fit between your fingers comfortably when using it during painting - can be cut further by the user to craft the perfect shape for each person.

What does the object mean to you? - doesn’t mean too much to me but allows me to add texture and lift colour from watercolour paintings - which I haven’t actually done in a while.

Is the object dead or alive? - used to be alive as a sea sponge which is a multicellular organism. Sea sponges cannot photosynthesise so they are now considered animals. The average life span of a sea sponge in the sea is 10 years.

What is its relationship to nature? -  They have been harvested from nature by people for centuries. But cut sponges regrow, often healthier and bigger than the original, within a few years and any pieces broken off will settle back to the ocean floor, connect to a new object and create a new sponge.

What is its relationship to industry? - natural sea sponges are used a lot in the fine art and ceramic industry - even masters like Leonardo Da Vinci used them.

What is the history of your object? - they have existed for around 700 million years. Scientists have discovered that they were the first animals on Earth. The first references of sponges being used by humans dates back to the Romans, using them for hygiene and cleaning. They are depicted on Greek pottery as a depiction of opulence and as a status symbol.

What is the future of your object? - to hopefully be used as much as possible before eventually having to throw it away when it gets worn down and starts falling apart.

Dasha

Cylindrical. 

Malleable. 

Bright. 

Eye catching. 

What could this everyday object be?

It’s the ever-so-functional ear plug. A tiny little object with a big mission to protect the hearing of its owner and cancel out noisy situations when needed. Squish and roll in your hand to place in your ears. Then - S-I-L-E-N-C-E.

My relationship to the ear plug. 

What does it mean to me? 

A good night’s sleep.

Peace of mind that hearing stays intact during life - from concerts to battle to working in a factory. 

It is not alive, but the squishy texture responds to touch so some life is breathed into it through that fact. It responds to touch. 

The relationship to nature is a tricky one since the material of these is quite synthetic, but thinking deeper about it the relationship of nature and hearing - sounds in nature could be blocked by this object. 

It has a close relationship to industry with many factory workers using ear plugs to prevent hearing loss when working near loud machinery. 

I believe the history is that they were first made for military troops to prevent hearing loss when gunfire was present in battle.

 The future of my object that it is disposable so will be used and likely tossed after so many uses. 

- AMY

When I use it, smoke is sucked into my body through the mouthpiece and I exhale it back out.

It's an object that helps me relieve stress.

When I was using it, I felt it was alive.

Maybe some of the tobacco is derived from nature.

It was manufactured by industry.

It is commonly stated that the modern e-cigarette was invented in 2003 by Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik, but tobacco companies had been developing nicotine aerosol generation devices since as early as 1963. As of 2018, 95% of e-cigarettes were made in China.

In 1927, Joseph Robinson applied for a patent for an electronic vaporizer to be used with medicinal compounds. The patent was approved in 1930 but the device was never marketed. In 1930, the United States Patent and Trademark Office reported a patent stating, "for holding medicinal compounds which are electrically or otherwise heated to produce vapors for inhalation." In 1934 and 1936, further similar patents were applied for.

From a health point of view, more people will use e-cigarettes in the future. E-cigarettes are better than cigarettes in terms of taste, and have too many benefits than cigarettes, the most important is to reduce the harm 95% is just that the audience is not as large as the smokers, but this is only a matter of index, when the e-cigarette has a certain base of users, may be treated tobacco it, of course, depends on whether tobacco is willing to be replaced.

JiaJing Sun

2 It is used to hold food or soup, and when I use it to drink soup, it makes a sound.

3  a tool，also can be seemed as a bridge to approach my food politely.

4 alive

5 Nature: It's made of metals that come from nature，and made by chemical methods.

6 Industry: Ergonomic design,  mass production by the factory.

7 History: The Earliest Chinese people used spoons to eat food, which belonged to the Neolithic Age about 7,000 to 8,000 years ago and was directly related to the emergence of farming culture.

8 Future: Eliminate the sound


Wendi Nie

The size of the object is similar to the size of the palm of hand, It is easy to carry and smells good. The alcohol does not smell too heavy. It can be cleaned and disinfected anytime and anywhere.This design achieves both appearance and function.

What does it mean to me? 

Prevent bacterial and aesthetic appearance

It makes me cleaner and psychologically protected.I never leave home without it. It's essential.

There's interaction between us, it's doing its job, and in a sense, I'm unilaterally declaring it alive

What is its relationship to nature?

Most of its components come from nature. It is a transformation of natural substances, and this relationship is very subtle.

What is its relationship to industry?

There is no denying that the relationship between them is close.It needs to be developed by the different industry in order to achieve its life.At the same time, it also serves the factory.

What is the history of your object?

I guess it was the medical staff, because alcohol is not easy to carry, who invented this disposable, gelatinous drug.

What is the future of your objects?

I think after this coVID-19 experience, this disinfection products will definitely be valued in the future and will become a necessity for everyone, like a wallet. Because it gives the public a sense of psychological and physical security.

Renee