A fidget toy is a small, handheld object that people can manipulate to release restless energy, manage stress, or aid concentration.

In this workshop, participants are creating their own fidget toys using discarded electronic parts—switches, wheels, bearings, and other components salvaged from old printers, video players, and similar devices. All materials are collected at a local e-waste recycling point or supplied by participants.

These handmade objects are designed as playful tools to address (eco)anxiety, tech-related overstimulation, and short attention spans. They offer a tactile alternative to compulsive smartphone use and support focus through embodied interaction.

A key focus is the materiality of technology: digital devices are not immaterial, but built from minerals, plastics, and metals that travel through cycles of extraction, labor, logistics, use, and waste. By reworking these components into fidget objects, participants engage in critical making and reflect on the hidden lives and afterlives of technology—its infrastructures, planned obsolescence, and environmental impact.

The workshop builds on the practice of Benjamin Gaulon (Recyclism), exploring Tech Mining and Recycling as creative strategies.