Tinkering
There is only one scientific definition of tinkering (bricolage). It is defined by Claude Lévi-Strauss, a French anthropologist. Bricoler is explained in a part of his book “The Savage Mind”.
That Jacques Derrida, a French philosopher, didn’t agree with Claude Lévi-Strauss’ definition of tinkering versus engeneering. He didn’t make a difference between these two actions.
Improvising, crafting, building etc. is not to be mistaken with tinkering! Tinkering has no defined goal and doesn’t follow any plan.
Not only a lot of progressive designers say that the ability of tinkering (play intuitively with objects at hand to maybe discover something valuable) is getting more and more important in our complex and unpredictable world.
That tinkering is universal. Everyone on this earth can tinker: no matter if young or old, black or white, rich or poor. But still, depending on the context some do tinker more often than others.
Do you want to know more about tinkering? Contact me – I’m not an expert IN tinkering (nobody can become a tinker-expert) but I studied a lot ABOUT tinkering and wrote a paper about this activity (in German).
E-Waste
Some 20 to 50 million metric tonnes of e-waste are generated worldwide every year, comprising more than 5% of all municipal solid waste.
The average lifespan of computers in developed countries has dropped from six years in 1997 to just two years in 2005 while mobile phones have a lifecycle of less than two years in developed countries. Via Greenpeace.
That e-waste is the fastest growing segment of USA’s waste stream and researchers estimate that 3/4 of USA’s electronic waste is still in storage because people don’t know how to handle it.
Switzerland has one of the most establlished e-waste management systems worldwide – and it’s precisely where Bricolo Box was invented. Paradox.
Foodstuff
An estimated 6.7 million tonnes of household food waste is produced each year in the UK, most of which could have been eaten. So eat it. If it’s date is expired so at least tinker with it.
Producing food uses energy. But growing vegetables uses not as much energy as meat, and fresh, local food uses less energy than processed foodstuff. So choose wise when assembling a Bricolo Box Organic!
You can be a food-designer/tinkerer without knowing anything about cooking. Just don’t forget to compost afterwards. Remember the cradle to cradle principle.
