Published: 23 May 2025
Text: Anne-Marie Korseberg Stokke
Photo: Anne-Marie Korseberg Stokke
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“People were ringing the wrong door all the time,” says Thomas Ramberg, who had just moved into a new house with his family at the time. “We tried to find a nice door sign, but nothing appealed to us. Either the design was boring or it had an impractical mount with four screws. So we just left it.”
Thomas is a trained graphic designer and an avid Kindle user. His fascination with the battery-free E Ink technology lingered in the back of his mind, and one day the thought struck him: What if a door sign could work like a Kindle?
“With that technology, you can change the content without using power. It was just perfect! You could customize the sign based on life situations or occasions — whether it’s kids moving out, a birthday, or just wanting a fresh look.”
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When the pandemic hit and design assignments dried up, Thomas seized the opportunity. He started sketching, building the concept, and shared the idea with the Norwegian Design Council.
“I had booked a half-hour meeting with an advisor. It turned into two and a half hours. He said: ‘This is the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time. You just have to do it.’”
Thomas managed to get in touch with E Ink — a company known for being difficult to reach.
“But the timing was good. We ended up having almost weekly video meetings. They supported the project and invited us to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in 2022.”
But the road from idea to product turned out to be longer than expected.
“Hardware is hard. And time-consuming. And expensive,” he laughs. “We had to build everything from scratch. Circuit boards, software, mechanics, app, and not least, ensure the whole thing was waterproof. The first version couldn’t handle Norwegian weather, so it was back to the drawing board.”
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The team now consists of three core members: Thomas himself, product developer Marius Aabel who has a background from No Isolation and AUK, and Kenneth Pedersen from the design agency ANTI. The various parts of the door sign are produced in multiple places around the world, but the assembly currently happens at a desk in Startuplab at Oslo Science Park.
“We started with the ambition to produce everything in Norway, but several electronics manufacturers told us it simply wasn’t possible for a price-sensitive product.”
The product has now gained a foothold in both private homes and institutions.
“We’ve sold to Vadsø Municipality, where the signs are used in offices and shared housing. And in a dementia unit at a new hospital, each resident gets a sign with a photo of themselves as a young person. It helps them recognise their room. Knowing that something we made can make everyday life easier — that feels huge.”
And the interest is growing. Signs have been sent to over eleven countries, including the USA, Japan, Australia, and even Guam in the Pacific.
“There’s nothing like it in the world. I almost have to pinch myself. Why hasn’t anyone done this before?”
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Dory comes with an app that lets users customize everything: names, font, language and even illustrations created by artists from around the world.
“We collaborate with six type foundries and twelve illustrators from countries like Norway, Japan, and Spain. You can write your name in Urdu and combine it with Japanese symbols, or use a handwritten note as a background.”
Thomas sees Dory as a platform for identity, not just information.
“You should be proud of what you hang on your door. It’s the first thing people see. And it should be easy to change and fun to use.”
Soon, Dory will be tested in OBOS Living Lab, an experimental building with about 30 residents.
“They get to choose a frame and we help with the initial setup. It’ll be exciting to see how they use it, both on their own doors and in shared spaces. Maybe with a QR code linking to the robot vacuum manual?”
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Are you spending too much time on your mobile phone? Are you worried about what screens are doing to our children? If so, you are part of a large movement that dates back to antiquity. Trine Syvertsen from UiO has examined our need to disconnect more closely.
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