Funny Laundering

Adulthood can be a challenging time filled with worries, responsibilities and, perhaps worst of all, household chores.

Clever Kingston University design MA student Lee Wei Chen has clearly realised this, and has come up with a perfect solution to liven up the depressing, yet necessary  ritual of laundry.

Bringing the childhood charm of video game arcades ino the dull, domestic sphere of adulthood, Chen’s amusement washing machine puts an entirely new, well, spin on laundry.

2
1

The device came about through Chen’s realisation that spending a lot of time playing video games probably wasn’t all that productive.

‘I realised that the skills I had developed in the virtual world were useless in the real world. I wanted to make them useful,’ says the 27-year-old.

2
2

The machine looks like an arcade style video console – but the bottom half of the unit is a washing machine, with the components’ circuitry linked together. Therefore, the washing cycle is dependent on the success of the person playing the game, meaning that if they struggle, extra coins are needed to make sure the washing cycle is completed.

Chen’s course leader, Colin Holden, says, ‘He’s chosen two instantly recognisable objects – a washing machine and an arcade game – to illustrate this idea. Together the two objects produce a striking new electronic device. It’s an extremely well-executed design concept.’

Despite the genius behind the idea, it seems Chen is still far from becoming a domestic god, remaining blissfully unaware of the nuances of actually washing clothes.

‘I don’t even know how to choose the programme,’ he says.

 

2
3

The amusement washing machine will be on display alongside work from other Kingston University MA students as part of London Design Festival at Tent, the Truman Brewery, from September 22 – 25

Hide Comments (7)Show Comments (7)
Comments
  • sprungseven November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Maybe we could set out a whole kitchen?

    http://sprungseven.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/super-washup/

  • mary carroll November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    this is great ,where can l get one ,l hate doing all the washing for family of 4 but with this l could load wash and play

  • Ho Van Chuong November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    I very like washing-machine
    I think so design 1 key the position door-down

  • Tina November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    This would get husband and kids to do more laundry, just need the matching dryer so more than one could play!

  • Monis Rose November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Personally, doing laundry paid for my college education, but if I had one of these contraptions, it would have been a totally bitchin experience instead of something mundane and ad nauseum.

  • d November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    hfd

  • Bluexephos November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    123456780 from Yogscast

  • Post a comment

Latest articles