At first glance the Flashkus disposable paper thumb drive looks like a great idea. Equipped with 8 GB, it’s enough space for the files you need for a meeting, and when the meeting is over you can hand over the files or toss the thumb drive away. Need to share files with a co-worker? With a disposable drive you don’t have to worry about keeping track of your drive or when you’ll be getting it back. It also means you don’t have to transfer personal data to another drive first.
However, in a time when disposable goods are generally considered a big no-no, why should a USB drive be spared? Because they’re so small? So are plastic water bottle caps. Art. Lebedev Studio, the Russian design group behind Flashkus doesn’t appear to take a stance one way or the other. In fact, their maze of a website hasn’t even been updated recently enough to include the design, so even if the paper component of Flashkus is recyclable, there’s no word yet on whether the electronic piece is. It’s still too soon to write the design off completely yet, but my inclination is not to trust a design group with a navigationally impaired web site.
designer: lebedev studio
