Retire Your iPhone as a Lamp with Speakers

Industrial Designer for Kwambio Ivan Zhurba helps you beat tech obsolescence in a functional alternative to recycling

Ivan Zhurba has a new way to make use of your retired iPhones. Instead of throwing them out or recycling them, how about turning them into your next bedside or office lamp. A simple bracket with sleek, “Apple-y” lines plays host to your iPhone, and uses its charger as the power source.

The lamp is compatible with four iPhone models: 4, 4s, 5 and 5c.
Though no older or newer models are compatible, it provides a functional alternative to recycling or Craigslist.

Zhurba’s design of the lamp resembles a capital ‘C’, although more jagged with sharper angles than the casual curves. The phone slips in on the top, leaving a small crack at the end exposed for the LED light. This sleek design also amplifies the iPhone’s speakers using the acoustics of the material, which combine with its open-frame shape to provide natural amplification of the sounds played on the device.

This is a newer and innovative solution to the growing problem of electronic waste. Even innocuous, everyday devices like cell phones and keyboards contain traces of hazardous materials that leech into soil and water if disposed of in a landfill. Though community recycling projects exist for the devices, they can barely keep up with the consistent demand of upgraded models. Finding ways to upcycle older models could well provide an appealing solution to this growing problem.

Although the current model serves only four versions of the iPhone, the concept is simple enough for production to begin on versions for other styles of smartphone.

For one month between mid-July and mid-August of 2015, Shurba will make the design available in the form of 3D printing plans. Those interested can find the design on the Kwambio 3D blueprint marketplace.