Carpenters and sculptors, by necessity, build jigs to assist in the creation of work. Such jigs fascinate me, whether simple blocks of wood cut to a certain shape and size or more intricate and complex structures whose purpose remains a mystery to the uninitiated. Aesthetics are not a concern and function dictates every decision in their creation. They are pure, uncorrupted and unaffected. Legibility is not important, only that they fulfil their function. They rarely offer enough information to an outsider to extrapolate the appearance of the finished item.

Step 1: Set up an innocuous looking information booth in a public space or pretend to be taking a survey with a clipboard and ask people to describe their most vexing problems. Perhaps present yourself as a representative from an inventor consortium group looking for issues with which to work. Encourage participants to hold nothing back and describe problems that no machine or device could realistically alleviate.

Step 2: Using these responses, build jigs that would be used in the manufacture of a device to solve these vexing issues. These jigs could be enormously complex, complete with hinges, straps, electronics, etc. Do not depict or create the finished product.

Step 3: Make extravagant claims for the powers of the object the jig helps to construct. By not actually constructing the device, I force people to imagine what such a device might look like. Maybe even ask them to describe/draw it.

Another possibility: Give more fuel to a viewer’s attempts to conjure there mythical devices by also having raw materials/hardware/etc on hand as if manufacturing were poised to start. These materials should be specific enough to seem plausibly usable with the jigs but not so specific as to spell out HOW they are used. Step by step instructions might be provided as a guide. But there should be vagaries and open-ended aspects that allow the viewer to interpret things on their own.