Design Project Envisions Macs Made of Honeycomb, Coal, Ice and Other Unusual Materials

Designers Hank Beyer and Alex Sizemore have created a series of Macs encased in locally-sourced materials, including honeycomb, coal, and ice, to "question the implications of globalization" and "consider how unconventional materials can change product relationships" (via Fast Company).

Hank Beyer Alex Sizemore Honey Mac

The design project is titled "For the Rest of Us," which is a play on Apple's marketing tagline for the original Macintosh: "Introducing Macintosh, the computer for the rest of us."

Photographed with similar backdrops and framing as the original Macintosh ads, Beyer and Sizemore's Macs, which are effectively non-functional sculptures, seek to challenge Apple's industrial design aesthetics by reimagining them with thought-provoking materials.

Hank Beyer Alex Sizemore Coal Mac

Beyer and Sizemore chose a wide range of locally-sourced materials from the American midwest, including coal, ice, peat, lard, honeycomb, sandstone, and clay, for the series of designs. The machine made of limestone is almost practical, and intends to render the color of Apple's "Snow White" original Macintosh design in a natural material.

Hank Beyer Alex Sizemore Stone Mac

Others, such as the dirt, ice, or honeycomb-encased Macs, are much more extraordinary and surrealist.

Hank Beyer Alex Sizemore Ice Mac

The entire project began several years ago, and aims to present "an alternate reality." Yet the series of designs are also "future-forward," as companies seek out more sustainable manufacturing processes and materials.

We don't want people to view our project and feel resentment toward globalization, to feel that we want to replace industry or to consider new materials only for commercial merit. We want people to question the implications of globalization, and consider how unconventional materials can change product relationships.

Hank Beyer Alex Sizemore Concrete Mac

After displaying the project in International Festival of Design at the Villa Noailles in Hyères, France, Beyer and Sizemore have now released a "For the Rest of Us" hand-bound linen hardcover book, investigating the "processes, people, history, politics, and values of each regional material source," and how different materials could be used to create a desktop computer.

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Top Rated Comments

Dr. Echsel Avatar
54 months ago
But why.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SirAnthonyHopkins Avatar
54 months ago

But why.
It's an art piece. It's a strange thing for MacRumors to report on and I imagine this comment section is going to be an absolute disaster, judging by previous similar threads, but I think it's quite a nice idea and a good way to get people to engage with technology and manufacturing processes etc.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
54 months ago
Well this is very unique. It’s a piece of art .
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DogHouseDub Avatar
54 months ago
Reason for Genius Bar visit: monitor buzzing
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Madmic23 Avatar
54 months ago
I'd buy the ice one.....because it's so cool! ?

This has been my dad joke of the day.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
theluggage Avatar
54 months ago
Present those as whimsical "art for art's sake" and they'd be entertaining fun.

Call them a "design project" and wrap it all in pretentious language and nonsensical green virtue signalling, and expect mockery.

Like: why did they miss out the Mac made from bull... er... bovine by-products? (don't knock it - mix it up with some clay and straw and it's a widely-used construction material, and a lot greener than concrete...)

Or: I see Apple TV+ are planning a re-make of The Flintstones...
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)