The $0 Statement: Teenage Engineering’s Minimalist PC Case
Teenage Engineering’s Computer-2 arrives as a radical provocation disguised as a PC case—minimalist housing formed from a single folded plastic sheet, priced at exactly zero dollars. No screws, no logos, just downloadable 18-step PDF and snap-fit construction that channels IKEA’s flat-pack ethos through avant-garde lens.
Transparency over theatrics
While competitors chase polished metals and RGB spectacle, Computer-2 flips script entirely. Semi-transparent housing showcases internals openly—Mini-ITX motherboard, compact GPU, low-profile cooler—revealing modern performance anatomy without ornamental distraction. No front I/O, no finishing touches, just raw architectural honesty in culture obsessed with surface treatment.
Access as ideology
Sold out instantly despite zero cost, the case functions as a design manifesto rather than mere hardware. By removing price barriers, Teenage Engineering recasts good design from exclusive luxury into shared visual language. It’s tactile argument for openness, reduction, and DIY democratization—unbranded, unsponsored, undeniably memorable.
Commentary through construction
Computer-2 transcends functional object to become cultural statement about design value and accessibility. It proves great design doesn’t require premium pricing to carry conceptual weight—sometimes the most radical move is giving excellence away completely.
When design becomes gift, the entire industry’s value system shifts.