IBM: A Smarter Business Engine by George P. Johnson

How to explain digital transformation with plastic balls.

Charles and Ray Eames’ design philosophy was all about embracing playfulness. Whether they were designing furniture, toys, or iconic exhibits such as 1961’s Mathematica – a partnership with IBM.

Inspired by the Eameses early work with IBM, George P. Johnson created a 10-foot tall, interactive machine. The installation uses playful metaphors, and the behavior of the plastic balls as they travel through the tracks and mechanisms of the machine helps to visualize the key steps to a more modern organization. In essence, proving the power of design to make the complex, simple.