Editorial articles examining repairability as a core design value, focusing on access, fasteners, modularity, wear, and lifecycle thinking that determine whether objects can realistically be repaired and sustained over time.
March 3, 2025
Repair as a Design Principle
Understanding Repair as a Design Principle
Establishes repairability as an intentional design discipline, framing repair as a structural, material, and economic decision rather than an afterthought.
Designing Objects That Can Be Opened
Examines how access points, enclosure strategies, and fastener choices determine whether an object can actually be serviced and repaired.
Fasteners, Not Glue
Analyses how different joining strategies affect disassembly, maintenance, and the long-term repair potential of objects.
Modularity vs Permanence
Discusses the trade-offs between modular systems and permanent assemblies, examining where modularity supports repair and where it adds unnecessary complexity.
Wear as Information
Explores wear patterns as feedback, revealing how material degradation and failure modes expose design assumptions over time.
Repair Time vs Replacement Time
Examines the real-world thresholds at which repair remains viable, considering time, cost, access, and user capability.
Designing for the Second Owner
Considers how repair-friendly design supports second-hand use, long-term ownership, and extended product lifecycles.