When CC, who describes herself as a “baddie,” isn’t emailing from her sea-inspired mermaid cyberdeck, she’s documenting on her blog, Bimbo Tech. This DIY computer, like many others, is built by women looking to personalize their tech experience.

The trend of girly cyberdecks has exploded in popularity thanks to social media and the desire for customization. From a wooden Game Boy emulator to a Barbie house with a mini-computer inside, these creations are both artistic and political statements.

Maro Vandanyan takes this rebellion further by combining fiber art with computing, weaving old processors into wearable tech like corsets. Her work is a nod to the historical relationship between women and early computing technology.

This trend reflects a broader frustration with big tech’s homogeneity. CC notes the irony of tech devices that are supposed to be personal but can’t be customized or tinkered with, making DIY cyberdecks an act of defiance.

These cyberdecks might be impractical and inefficient by design, but they represent a radical shift towards embracing the creative potential of technology rather than being controlled by it. In an age where tech feels abstract and unapproachable, these projects are a refreshing reminder that computing can be fun and accessible – even if it’s in a pink purse.