platbami

Platbami is a fictional concept used in speculative fiction and design studies to illustrate how flat, modular artifacts can integrate into everyday life. The term combines imagined roots plat- meaning flat and bami as a generic marker for multipart assembly. In the fictional taxonomy, platbami objects are defined by their flat, low-profile form and modular joints that support multiple configurations.

Origins and use. In world-building exercises, platbami serves as a placeholder for exploring issues of manufacturability, sustainability, and local economies. Authors deploy platbami as a shorthand to examine how materials, labor, and distribution shape the uptake of technology within communities.

Design principles. Platbami objects typically emphasize flatness, lightweight materials, ease of assembly or disassembly, durability, and repairability. They are designed to fit into small spaces and be adaptable to households, workplaces, and public spaces.

Cultural representations. In fiction, platbami items appear as kitchen tools, furniture, or portable devices that can be laid out for temporary needs or folded into compact stacks for travel, illustrating modularity and resilience.

Rationale. As a teaching tool, platbami helps readers consider how design choices influence social practice, access, and cultural exchange.

See also. Design fiction, speculative design, modularity in product design, world-building.

---