Barimah Asare
Barimah is a designer and entrepreneur passionate about sustainable innovation. Born in the US and raised in the UK, he studied Product Design at the University of the Arts London, where he founded the Creative Entrepreneurs Society and was named one of UAL’s Top 50 Future Founders. Barimah is the creator of Project Hivemind, a compact external graphics card enclosure (eGPU) that extends laptop lifespans by up to three years, reducing e-waste and challenging the buy-use-replace cycle. Now based in New York, he is focused on bringing this market-ready solution to consumers and driving systemic change in tech sustainability.
Global e-waste is projected to reach 65.3 million tonnes by 2025, growing nearly 5 times faster than recycling rates, with only about 22% properly recycled (Global E-Waste Monitor).
This surge poses severe environmental risks and underscores the urgent need for solutions that extend the lifespan of electronic devices. Through Hivemind, Barimah is addressing this challenge by creating a compact external graphics card enclosure (eGPU) that allows users to upgrade laptop performance without replacing their devices. This innovation combats the buy-use-replace cycle and offers a sustainable alternative for creatives and professionals who need high computing power.
With support from the Swarovski Foundation's Creatives for Our Future programme, Barimah is refining his prototype to improve design quality, explore sustainable materials, and scale production through localised manufacturing. The grant provides mentorship and resources to help him overcome technical challenges and bring a market-ready solution to consumers.
Barimah’s vision is to empower users and drive systemic change in tech sustainability. By extending laptop lifespans by up to three years, Hivemind reduces environmental impact while increasing accessibility for students, creatives, and professionals worldwide—proving that performance and sustainability can go hand in hand.
“Sustainable development represents the next natural evolution of product design. Just as user-centred design revolutionised technology and UX/UI transformed digital experiences, sustainability will define the next generation of innovation.”
Barimah Asare
