Repairable by Design

2024

How might we guide designers and manufacturers to create easily repairable consumer electronics?

Meet Speak.R

Repairable by Design showcases how Speak.R, a repairable Bluetooth speaker, tackles barriers to repair in electronics, and offers a business catalogue to help manufacturers adopt repairable, durable, and circular design solutions.

Designed for Disassembly

Speak.R embodies the essence of repairable design through its detailed engineering. Each element, from magnetic alignment to accessible thumb screws and friction-fit seals, is crafted for easy assembly and maintenance. These features emphasise simplicity and functionality, ensuring Speak.R serves as a clear and inspiring example for designers and manufacturers. Its modular structure and innovative connections demonstrate repairability as a practical, scalable solution for extending the life of consumer electronics and reducing e-waste.

Packaging with Purpose

Speak.R comes disassembled, inviting users to engage with its repairable design from the outset. This hands-on assembly process familiarises users with its components, empowering them to repair and maintain the product in the future. It also taps into the IKEA effect—the heightened value users feel when they build something themselves. By fostering a sense of ownership and accomplishment, Speak.R’s packaging not only educates but also strengthens the emotional bond between users and their product, encouraging longevity and care.

Business Catalogue: Guide to Repairable Design

The Business Catalogue guides manufacturers and designers in creating repairable electronics with practical solutions like magnets, screws, and modular components instead of adhesives. Supported by examples like Speak.R, it addresses disassembly, part replacement, and durability, offering a clear roadmap to extend product lifespans and reduce e-waste.

The Process

Research

The UNSW Capstone research involved interviews with seven experts, a literature review, and future-thinking methods to explore electronics repairability.
Sketching

Early sketches integrated form and repairability, fostering emotional connection and visually guiding users to repair methods.
Iteration

Prototyping involved a series of clips and custom mechanisms, tested with a sample speaker.
Refinement

A user testing model was created and tested with five designers before finalising the model.
Manufacturing

Utilising FDM & SLA printing with Resin, PLA, TPG95, Silicone and fixings to create a physical prototype.
Exhibition

Repairable presentation prototype created and on display as part of PULSE, the UNSW Industrial Design Exhibition, at BE GradEx 2024.