Italy – Connectivity Concept is a new range of six smart telecom products that are designed to complement home interiors, including a router, a soundbar with a detachable webcam, a set-top box and a remote control.
Envisaging the future of more discreet interfaces in the home, design studio Layer and Deutsche Telekom have joined forces for the collection, presented at Salone del Mobile Milano 2022. Designs include a mesh repeater for extending wifi that mimics a decorative item made from timber, but when touched it displays information via an LED matrix. The set-top box and soundbar, which is an all-in-one media hub, is inspired by hand-crafted ceramics to blend into modern home settings. The remote control is self-balancing and has a large trackpad that provides maximum control when navigating streaming apps.
‘Connectivity devices are an increasingly important element of the home and how we live – yet, they often don’t truly reflect our highly valued home environments. Connectivity Concept takes important products intrinsic to our day-to-day and introduces a sense of craftsmanship,’ explains Benjamin Hubert, founder of Layer.
Strategic opportunity
When designing future-facing electronics, consider how shape, materiality and interfaces can transform them into functional decorations, as opposed to cluttering, noticeable devices