Zen Blaster

Inspired by traditional bucket-and-bamboo water carriers, Designer Waikit Chung created this digital boombox for monks. While Wakit's design might be slow to market (the Zen Buddhist/ loud music crossover market is definitely niche) the blaster is a great example of design that fits seamlessly within the cultural and natural ecology of its intended users. It seems almost a reaction to the iPod and its ilk, fostering community rather than headphone-assisted isolation.

The controls are simple, and the use of an SD card instead of an internal drive encourages sharing. Factory-formed bamboo as the main structural material creates an interesting contrast with the ghettoblaster's silicon guts- bamboo enclosures for electronics will hopefully become more and more common. I just wish the shiny ABS plastic were press-molded stoneware!