Short answer

Design products with repairability in mind, and consider how your business model can support and incentivize repair throughout the product's lifespan.

Field
Sustainability
Source
The Centre for Sustainable Design, University of the Creative Arts (2016)
Method
Qualitative research, narrative collection, and landscape mapping.
Evidence
Moderate effect

Understanding the diverse motivations and interactions surrounding product repair can reveal opportunities for new business models that promote product longevity and slow resource consumption. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2016 study published in The Centre for Sustainable Design, University of the Creative Arts. Using Qualitative research, narrative collection, and landscape mapping., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design products with repairability in mind, and consider how your business model can support and incentivize repair throughout the product's lifespan.

Study
SustainabilityHigh ImpactModerate effect

Mapping the 'Repair Landscape' Unlocks Sustainable Business Models

Understanding the diverse motivations and interactions surrounding product repair can reveal opportunities for new business models that promote product longevity and slow resource consumption.

The Centre for Sustainable Design, University of the Creative Arts · 2016

01

Key Findings

  • 01Repair is a complex activity driven by diverse motivations, not just economic necessity.
  • 02Mapping product-people interactions during repair reveals opportunities for product longevity and resource loop slowing.
  • 03Understanding 'fragile-functionality' (performance failure, emotional disengagement, superseded technology) is key to designing for enduring products.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Design products with repairability in mind, and consider how your business model can support and incentivize repair throughout the product's lifespan.

How to apply

When designing a new product, actively research existing repair practices for similar items and interview potential users about their repair habits and attitudes. Consider modular design and the availability of spare parts.

Project actions

  • 01Investigate repair cafes or local repair shops to observe and interview people.
  • 02Consider the emotional attachment users have to products when designing for repair.
  • 03Think about how a product's 'end-of-life' can be extended through repair and refurbishment.
03

Method & Evidence

AimHow can mapping the 'landscape of repair' inform the development of sustainable business models and consumption patterns?
MethodQualitative research, narrative collection, and landscape mapping.
ProcedureThe research involved collecting narratives of repair to identify diverse people-product interactions and understand the characteristics and motivations behind repair activities. These interactions were then mapped across the product lifecycle, particularly during stages of 'fragile-functionality'.
ContextProduct lifecycle, repair activities, sustainable business models, consumption patterns.

Variables

IV["Motivations for repair","Product-people interactions during repair"]
DV["Potential for product longevity","Opportunities for sustainable business models","Modes of consumption"]
CV["Product type","User demographics","Socio-economic context"]
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Provides a framework for understanding repair beyond simple functionality.
  • +Connects repair to broader concepts of sustainable business and consumption.

Limitations

The scope of repair can be limited by the availability of parts, specialized tools, or the complexity of modern electronics.

Reliability & validity

The qualitative nature of narrative collection may introduce subjectivity. Reliability could be enhanced through triangulation of data from multiple sources (e.g., interviews, observations, repair diaries). Validity is supported by the depth of exploration into user motivations and interactions.

Think critically

To what extent does the 'emotional disengagement' with a product influence its repairability, and how can designers design to maintain or re-establish this connection?

05

Design Principles

"Design for longevity and repairability to foster sustainable consumption."

Designers can leverage insights into repair practices to create products that are more easily maintained, repaired, and ultimately, longer-lasting. This shifts focus from linear 'take-make-dispose' models to more circular approaches, fostering a more sustainable relationship between consumers and products.

06

What This Means for Your Design

This research shows that if we understand why people fix broken things, we can design products that last longer and create new ways for businesses to make money by repairing rather than just selling new items.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use the concept of the 'repair landscape' to justify design choices focused on longevity and serviceability.
  • 2.Reference the findings to support arguments for designing products that are easier to disassemble and repair.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the importance of understanding the 'repair landscape' to foster sustainable consumption. By mapping the diverse interactions and motivations surrounding product repair, designers can identify opportunities to create more enduring products and develop business models that support longevity, thereby contributing to a more circular economy.

09

Source

The Centre for Sustainable Design, University of the Creative Arts

A landscape of repair

journal · 2016

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about mapping the 'repair landscape' unlocks sustainable business models?
Design products with repairability in mind, and consider how your business model can support and incentivize repair throughout the product's lifespan. Evidence: The Centre for Sustainable Design, University of the Creative Arts (2016).
Why does "Mapping the 'Repair Landscape' Unlocks Sustainable Business Models" matter for design?
Designers can leverage insights into repair practices to create products that are more easily maintained, repaired, and ultimately, longer-lasting. This shifts focus from linear 'take-make-dispose' models to more circular approaches, fostering a more sustainable relationship between consumers and products.
How can designers apply this research?
Design products with repairability in mind, and consider how your business model can support and incentivize repair throughout the product's lifespan.
What were the main findings?
Repair is a complex activity driven by diverse motivations, not just economic necessity.. Mapping product-people interactions during repair reveals opportunities for product longevity and resource loop slowing.. Understanding 'fragile-functionality' (performance failure, emotional disengagement, superseded technology) is key to designing for enduring products.
What research method was used?
Qualitative research, narrative collection, and landscape mapping..
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2016 journal from The Centre for Sustainable Design, University of the Creative Arts.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When designing a new product, actively research existing repair practices for similar items and interview potential users about their repair habits and attitudes. Consider modular design and the availability of spare parts.
What are the limitations?
The study's findings may be context-dependent and vary across different product categories and cultures.