Cairn Devices

Led by Valentin Pohu, Cairn Devices has developed a modular laptop that anyone can use, starting from the observation that a PC that still largely works is often thrown away because it has become extremely slow or broken down, as non-expert users cannot repair it themselves. The innovation lies in the computer’s architecture, rearranged rather than rebuilt from scratch, with two levels of modularity: Blocks (RAM, processor, SSD, battery, keyboard) that can be swapped without tools and are protected from the user, and personalisation-focused Mods, such as adding a webcam or an HDMI port. With the expertise of L’Atelier Universel and user testing, an intuitive system of colours and graphics was created to guide block replacement and ensure optimal, accessible use.