Data Door

How can we maintain control over our own personal data?

This project is now archived and was part of DDW22

This project is part of
Design United | EXPO

Data Door

What data leaves our house? Who receives this data? Is it done in a secure way? Questions to which the answers are not always clear to the user. Data Door is a first step in giving this control of data back to humans.

Tangible data

Data Door is a set of five speculative products. Everyday products were given a new function, focused on controlling and setting personal data preferences. In this way, data is no longer complex, but tangible - the core value of the project. I imagine a future where we go to a data shop, buy data control products, and call a data plumber to resolve our data problems. This will enable us to take back control. The five products: 1. Data customs - every smart product that enters your home will be scanned, which will provide insight into the data collection and how to handle it. 2. Data cleaning - data is pollution that will be saved at all kinds of servers. By cleaning it, you can delete it permanently. 3. Data moods - set a mood and reduce the amount of smart products that are allowed to collect data. 4. Data pipe - view data flowing through the data pipe and filter it by adding filters that fits your data preferences. 5. Data curtain - this curtain is a separation that will let some data pass through and others not, based on the materials.

Together towards one future

We have to remain critical with data, because this is a complex subject where ‘things’ can easily go wrong, for example, privacy violations. It’s essential that both designers and the users of personal data-gathering products are aware of these dangers. Designers need to take this into account when designing, and users need to use products more consciously. Data Door gives us future directions on the topic of data. It challenges technology to be an answer to human needs. By making a complex topic tangible, Data Door opens the conversation between stakeholders to look together at a future and share common values and norms. Technology is advancing extremely rapidly, often providing society with important benefits. However, it is important that we as designers keep a critical eye and ask questions about themes like ethics and security. Systems should work for the user and not secretly against them. Together, designers can create a market that is transparent and better aligned with human needs.