Answer: Because no one in the design process cares what they look like.
Having spent a fortune renovating (including re-wiring) a property, I need to install a couple of WiFi access points to make sure that WiFi is accessible in all parts of the building.
Trouble is they all look awful – most are white/grey plastic boxes with one or more aerials. They are plenty of examples to choose from, but few, if any, that look half decent.
Their design seems to be a hang-up from corporate offices rather than something than anyone would want on display in their home. As a result, most of these access points end up getting hidden away in cupboards, under the stairs, or anywhere else that they won’t be seen. Ironically, these positions don’t really help propagate the signal, they perform better out in the open.
Isn’t it about time that designers had an input into the appearance of the technology that is fast becoming part of our everyday world?
Who would want to stick this on their wall and look at it everyday? And if that wasn’t bad enough, there are some flashing lights on it to make sure that you don’t miss it!
OK, so this one looks like a smoke alarm. It is one method of disguising it, but it isn’t exactly attractive.
Probably the best we are going to find. I will strip it apart and spray the outside case so that it matches the wall colour. It will be a bit like the pottery uplighters that you can paint the same colour as your walls.