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Old Phones Get a Cool Makeover: 13 Fun Ways Students Gave Them New Jobs
Got an old phone just gathering dust? You're not alone! A bunch of design students in France took these forgotten smartphones and turned them into clever little gadgets. Here's a peek at their fun and funky reinventions.
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Lullabox
A tiny music player loaded with kids’ stories and songs. The old phone shows a simple dark-mode app inside a cool wooden case that looks like a mini treasure.
Right after hearing what the project was about, these students exploded with ideas. Instead of trying to turn old phones back into tiny computers, they went for simple: one job, done right.
Timo
A retro-style clock with eco-friendly vibes that shows time and date. It makes old phone screens look awesome and useful again.
Cloudy
A baby monitor that lights up a soft cloud shape with the phone’s screen. It gives babies a calm glow to drift off to sleep.
Working in teams, these students gave old phones fresh personalities:
- A charming retro clock named Timo that makes old screens look warm and cozy.
- A sneaky surveillance camera hiding inside a lamp, because who doesn't love a phone that’s also a lamp?
- Meeting room booking devices and desk timers that quietly keep the office running smoothly.
- And for families, kid-friendly phones, music players for little ones, and even baby monitors that turn 'obsolete' phones into lifesavers.
One student said it felt like real design work because they had to solve a real problem and make life better.
Umeo
A wall-mounted gadget that controls the mood lighting in your living room. Old phone tech meets home ambiance magic.
Reza
A meeting room booking device that lives right by the door. It rocks a cool black cover to hide a cracked screen but still shows what rooms are free.
Electronic waste is a monster problem, with billions of devices tossed every year. These projects don’t fix that overnight, but they show how smart design can make your old phone awesome again.
As another student said, it’s not just about cool gadgets - it's about choosing to keep something longer and make it useful.
Racco
A calendar that doubles as a pen holder on your desk. The old phone shows a weekly planner powered by a quirky AI mascot who helps juggle your to-dos.
Pivote
A cool communication gadget for folks with hearing troubles. The old phone swivels to face whoever’s talking, making chats way easier to follow.
This wasn’t just about the tech; students had to think about who’ll actually use the new gadgets and if these redesigns really make old phones feel fresh enough to keep around.
One student admitted reusing materials was the fun part - turning a 'useless' phone into something people want to hold and keep.
By the end, slow, forgotten phones had become focused, purposeful tools, and the students had leveled up their design skills big time.
Papot’
A super simple phone just for kids, letting them call up to 10 trusted contacts. Safety first, fun always.
Leukos
A bedside wake-up light that uses the old phone’s screen and sounds to gently coax you awake. No more rude alarms!
Rephone isn’t done yet! New student teams will dive back in to:
- Find even more clever uses at home, work, and public spaces.
- Create apps tailor-made for old hardware.
- Share all their secrets openly so everyone can give old phones a new shot at life.
So yeah, this is just the start, but it’s already a pretty awesome second chance for those dusty devices.
Freeflex
A desk-time tracker that hides any cracked screen behind a sleek black film while keeping you focused and on task.
Weather Zoo
A fun weather station for little kids, guided by a friendly mascot that helps them pick the right outfit every day.
Camup
A sneaky table lamp with a hidden security camera inside. Old phone tech streams live video, so you can keep an eye on things without looking obvious.
Kiddo
An easy-to-use organizer that helps kids keep track of chores and manage their time like little pros.
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