Technology Will Save Us design kits that contain all the parts and tools needed to build objects such as simple speakers or musical instruments. "A lot of the time it's hard to navigate online resources in order to find all the things you need to make things with technology," says Koby.

Other kits include conductive playdough and programmable bike lights, all sold both online and at small pop-up kiosks they call Haberdasheries for Technology. "These are shops within shops where we can give people information about our kits," she says.

Created with designer Yuri Suzuki, their Radio Kit includes small circuits that fit together like a puzzle to form a working radio. "It contains PCB boards that you can piece together to create connections for a radio," Koby says.

Hirshmann then describes the workshops run by the studio in the local area, which include teaching groups how to wire a plug, solder and create small circuits. "We're interested in creating these workshop experiences where people can come in and join us as a community," he says.

They also arrange "meetings with experts" where they ask people in the community about specific needs that could be solved using simple technologies. "We had a gentleman called Mr Lewis who couldn't hear his doorbell and he wanted to see it," says Hirshmann. The solution was to hook up LEDs from their musical instrument kit to his doorbell so they flashed when it rang. "The key thing to remember is that he was one member in a community that potentially had a similar need, it's possible that this solution could help a lot of people," he says.

The studio also organises technology demonstrations and live "teardowns" of products. "We get an expert to rip apart something that's everyday in our lives, like a toaster, and explain what goes into this thing that makes it so good at making toast," says Hirshmann. "It's really fascinating to understand what goes into the stuff in our lives."

To conclude, he demonstrates light glasses built from their Bright Eyes Kit, which are sunglasses with LED video screens instead of lenses.

Dezeen's Designed in Hackney initiative was launched to highlight the best architecture and design made in the borough, which was one of the five host boroughs for the London 2012 Olympic Games as well as being home to Dezeen’s offices. Watch more movies from our Designed in Hackney Day or see more stories about design and architecture from Hackney.

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In the movie, Suzuki first discusses how he built a radio from an electronic circuit board by arranging the components according to the lines and stations of the Tube map. Read more about the Tube Map Radio in our earlier post.

"The printed circuit board is a remarkable invention. Due to the process of the efficiency of the electronics you can see something very complicated, almost like a maze," he says. "But what if you could replace it with something you are familiar with?"

He goes on to explain how he adapted Harry Beck's famous Tube map design into a circuit board that tells a story. "I really wanted to make a design that's a little bit like a narrative," he says.

In the second part of the movie he talks about working with Technology Will Save Us to create the Denki Puzzle kit, a set of redesigned and enlarged electronic components that can be pieced together in working sequences. "If you wanted to make a computer [with them] it's possible, technically – but it's going to be huge," he jokes.

We've featured a number of Suzuki's other designs on Dezeen, including a set of pens that record and play back sounds and a miniature record player that runs along a track made from vinyl records.

See all stories about Yuri Suzuki »
See all stories about the Design Museum »

Photographs are by Hitomi Kai Yoda.

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Designers in Residence 2012 appeared first on Dezeen.

Groups were each given a pack of electrical components and taught how to assemble and solder them together.

Once complete, each Lumiphone emits a variety of buzzing sounds that can be used for impromptu performances.

In other workshops, groups were shown how to build a sensor that responds to the needs of thirsty plants.

Hacked Lab took place at La Rinascente department store in Milan from 17 to 22 April. Click here to see all our stories about the events hosted there.

Technology Will Save Us manufacture all the kits for their workshops from their studio on Mare Street, Hackney.

Designed in Hackney map:

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Key:

Blue = designers
Red = architects
Yellow = brands

See a larger version of this map

Designed in Hackney is a Dezeen initiative to showcase world-class architecture and design created in the borough, which is one of the five host boroughs for the London 2012 Olympic Games as well as being home to Dezeen’s offices. We’ll publish buildings, interiors and objects that have been designed in Hackney each day until the games this summer.

More information and details of how to get involved can be found at www.designedinhackney.com.

Movie is by Alice Masters.

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Technology Will Save Us at Hacked Lab appeared first on Dezeen.