Most smartphones are not very upgrade-friendly. The batteries start losing their ability to hold a charge, or the processor isn't fast enough for new apps, or--well, you get the idea. But Phonebloks wants to turn the idea of locked-in smartphone features on its head, offering the chance to swap out each component of your device at will.

Each portion of the Phonebloks system is its own, unique block that clicks into a pegboard-like base. Need a bigger battery? Snap a larger one into the base. If you like photography, you could snap in a Nokia module. Yes, the concept allows for branded blocks, so you can mix and match your favorite components.Designer Dave Hakkens created the Phonebloks concept as a response to the wastefulness of smartphones. And honestly, with the emergence of carrier-based trade-in programs offering a new smartphone every year, maybe that's not such a bad idea.Hakkens has created a Thunderclap campaign --think Kickstarter, but replace the money with a unified social media blast--set to launch at the end of October. Will Phonebloks ever become a reality? We don't know, but it's certainly a cool idea.

Matt Clark is a freelance writer covering the world of videogames, tech, and popular culture. Follow him on Twitter @ClarkMatt and MyIGN at Matt_Clark