Ben Hopson's Kinetic Design

Ben Hopson has a problem with your CD player. From sliding disc trays to pop-up cases, the Brooklyn-based artist thinks little about the the state of movement in most product design. And he’s right. The fact is, when a design team sets out to develop a slick gadget, the way it moves is often forsaken for other aesthetic elements. Hopson demonstrates his passion in playful, three dimensional art dubbed “kinetic design.” The idea is simple: start with a basic medium, like a deck of Bicycle playing cards or block of foam, add a couple of dabs of glue, metal fasteners, and a whole lot of patience, and you come up with a piece that is uniquely animated — like a set of paper dolls that move along multiple axes. Click here to view a couple of his projects the way they’re meant to be experienced: in motion.