A Vending Machine from which Customers can Borrow and Return Books

This project explored vending machines, what they stock, how they work, how they interact with customers. The result of this project was a book-vending library that is positioned in public spaces like stations and airports from where customers can borrow and return books. Customers are charged according to how long they borrow the books, with the price capping at the price of the book. At this stage the rental becomes a purchase. A customer can return the book to any Vending machine and not necessarily the one they borrowed it from.

This vending machine was hypothetically branded as a part of the Amazon brand. The interface of the screen ties in with the Amazon website. Making it possible to browse, get recommendations and see what other people with similar taste have read. It is also possible to set up wish lists and get mails and texts when your book is in stock in a machine near you.

Users receive Amazon store cards, which retain a persons usage history, and help them avail of individually tailored offers. On borrowing a book a customer receives a receipt shaped like a bookmark that acts as a reminder and as brand reinforcement to the customer.

A major part of this product was the way it interacts with its users and surroundings. Its shape refers to that of a book, for example when standing within it the shape looks like an open book. Door detailing makes it look like the spine of a hardback book. The machine can be used from four different sides, making it work dynamically in space. The way stores design their interiors to reinforce the brand similarly the machine, the floor around it reflect the Amazon brand.