Mobile phones provide people with the ability to have the whole world at your fingertips. They also help people drive like they still have their learners permit. However, the environmental impact of discarded mobile phones is significant. According to Molly O’Meara Sheehan’s research (2004), in 2002, over a billion people had cell phones. By 2005, consumers have stockpiled some 500 million used cell phones that are likely to end up in landfills, where they could leach as many as 142 tons of lead. How to give these discarded mobile phones a new life is a challenge to all designers.

• Revitilize product functionality

Give a second life to a cell phone by transforming it to have a new function. Either invent a new product that solves a common problem or provide an alternative to a product currently on the market.

• Maximize the reuse of existing objects

Explore the possibility of modifying, removing or adding to any of the original materials.  New components can be rapid prototyped - see the Technology tab on the left for more details.

• Minimize energy consumption and waste

Your metacycle process should have fewer environmental impacts than available alternatives on the market.  Design for disassembly when possible.

• Upload up to five JPEG’s in 4:3 aspect ratio – less than 100 KB each.
• Include, sketches, diagrams or renderings – clear communication is key.
• Provide a title and brief description – no more than 150 words.
• Upload a pdf instruction manuel or an stl file if necessary - under 5 mb each.