Taking the “i” out of iPhone
By: Andrea Benatar (P), Mihika Bansal (E), Dorcas Lin (E) / CAD modeling, 3D renders digital campaign,
Tactics: Appeal to emotion, behavioral change, messaging, color
Origin is creating an alternative solution to ownership, one based around the benefits of sharing. We envision a future in which individually owned smartphones are no longer commonplace. The Origin Community Booths are an improved system of “phone booths” that emphasize the role of smartphones as vessels rather than an end-all-be-all source of knowledge. Within the phone booths, you can check-in and out a smartphone and log in with your designated credentials to access your desired information. Origin’s new campaign in 2025 disrupts against big tech by emphasizing how and why the technology industry has created harm (planned obsolescence, waste, etc.) while convincing individuals to think about their attachments to the everyday things they deem as valuable or important. For clarity, Origin isn’t looking to get rid of smartphones but we seek to reframe these devices as a shared experience. Check out the Origin booths and campaign below.
How it Works
- User finds a telephone booth with available phones
- User utilizes govt. issued ID to unlock phone
- User takes phone out
- User can access their information using a secure government login (login.gov)
- After they’re done, the user can return the phone to any station.
By not owning a phone you can ensure that you don’t add a smartphone to the already large amount of technological waste in this world. Additionally, we can end our dependence upon technology as an end-all-be-all source of knowledge, by only checking one out only when it’s needed in your day-to-day, and in turn, be more present in the moment.
Each phone would be protected through Origin cases, and act as a reminder of this new system we are creating, when you see someone holding it, you know they are working towards a more sustainable future.
