supervised by Prof. Gabriele N. Reichert, Prof. Matthias Held
bachelor project, 2022
team: Vincent Propst
The bachelor thesis uses three exemplary products to show what repairable product design looks like. Ten guidelines explain the necessary prerequisites and motivate users to try their hand at repairing products themselves. The work is divided into two parts. The guidelines and the visualization through examples.
In order to explore the topic in its entirety, we spoke to experts from various disciplines during our research, visited ifixit and a repair cafe and dismantled a selection of products ourselves.
Building on this, we repeatedly tested ergonomics, interaction and construction by analyzing existing products, sketching, CAD and 3D printing models.
design guidelines
The guidelines are visually presented to create an incentive to engage more intensively with repairable product development and to support designers and companies on their way there.
Bei der Auswahl der Komponenten sollten immer deren Verfügbarkeit und Üblichkeit auf dem Markt berücksichtigt werden und nach Gängingkeit, langfristiger Verfügbarkeit und vorliegenden Normen entschieden werden.
Bei der Auswahl der Komponenten sollten immer deren Verfügbarkeit und Üblichkeit auf dem Markt berücksichtigt werden und nach Gängingkeit, langfristiger Verfügbarkeit und vorliegenden Normen entschieden werden.
Bei der Auswahl der Komponenten sollten immer deren Verfügbarkeit und Üblichkeit auf dem Markt berücksichtigt werden und nach Gängingkeit, langfristiger Verfügbarkeit und vorliegenden Normen entschieden werden.
Bei der Auswahl der Komponenten sollten immer deren Verfügbarkeit und Üblichkeit auf dem Markt berücksichtigt werden und nach Gängingkeit, langfristiger Verfügbarkeit und vorliegenden Normen entschieden werden.
Bei der Auswahl der Komponenten sollten immer deren Verfügbarkeit und Üblichkeit auf dem Markt berücksichtigt werden und nach Gängingkeit, langfristiger Verfügbarkeit und vorliegenden Normen entschieden werden.
Bei der Auswahl der Komponenten sollten immer deren Verfügbarkeit und Üblichkeit auf dem Markt berücksichtigt werden und nach Gängingkeit, langfristiger Verfügbarkeit und vorliegenden Normen entschieden werden.
Bei der Auswahl der Komponenten sollten immer deren Verfügbarkeit und Üblichkeit auf dem Markt berücksichtigt werden und nach Gängingkeit, langfristiger Verfügbarkeit und vorliegenden Normen entschieden werden.
Bei der Auswahl der Komponenten sollten immer deren Verfügbarkeit und Üblichkeit auf dem Markt berücksichtigt werden und nach Gängingkeit, langfristiger Verfügbarkeit und vorliegenden Normen entschieden werden.
Bei der Auswahl der Komponenten sollten immer deren Verfügbarkeit und Üblichkeit auf dem Markt berücksichtigt werden und nach Gängingkeit, langfristiger Verfügbarkeit und vorliegenden Normen entschieden werden.
Bei der Auswahl der Komponenten sollten immer deren Verfügbarkeit und Üblichkeit auf dem Markt berücksichtigt werden und nach Gängingkeit, langfristiger Verfügbarkeit und vorliegenden Normen entschieden werden.
visualization through exemplary products
In the second part of the work, three exemplary products are used to visualize what concrete solutions can look like and how the guidelines can be implemented in the product.
The products should each have the minimum requirements of the product category and leave out supposed sales features. The design should specifically motivate users to repair. The structure of the products should be logical and easy to understand. A uniform selection of materials was used to ensure good recyclability.
electric toothbrush
The toothbrush is designed so that the housing of the toothbrush and station can be opened without tools, and translucent housing parts make the components visible and arouse curiosity to look inside. External interaction points are highlighted in color.
layout
details
Toolless access to the toothbrush is made possible by visible plastic snap connectors, which explain the locking mechanism by their shape and can be opened reversibly.
The station is secured by a nut on the underside with a screw that can be unscrewed by hand.
All components inside the toothbrush are mounted on a rack.
This simplifies removal and you can see at a glance where each component is located and how they are connected to each other, while the battery and motor are standard parts and can be obtained independently of the manufacturer.
dissassembly
wireless earbuds
At most existing earbuds, all components inside are glued in place.
Our earbuds do without this and hold the components through recesses in the material. They can be opened with everyday tools.
To spark the user's curiosity, all elements that would hide components are translucent.
layout
details
Both the buds and the case signal access to the device via the screw head. The housing can be opened through the slot using a coin or a flat-blade screwdriver.
The buds have two circuit boards, one for charging and power management and the other for the connection and audio signal processing. They are connected via a ribbon cable. The connection to the battery is established via contact pins on the circuit boards. So we can avoid soldering here. The battery used is a button cell, which is widely used in earbuds and ensures good availability of spare parts.
The motherboard in the case is attached to the inner shell via snap hooks. The entire unit is unlocked by loosening the screw and can be pulled out. The batteries are connected to the circuit board on both sides by plug connectors.
color coding left - right
The different colors of the screw plugs communicate the distinction on the left and right. We use a established coding system from the audio sector. Black for left, red for right. Even users who are not familiar with the color coding can quickly learn a basic of this area.
dissassembly
bean-to-cup coffee machine
The coffee machine has been designed so that its functional processes are clearly visible and easy to understand.
A major focus here is on regular maintenance and the accessibility of the components. This should make servicing and repairs much easier.
layout
interface
There are three different messages in the coffee machine: exchange, maintenance and malfunction.
These three groups have a color assigned to them to highlight and connect the components. Exchange is blue, maintenance is yellow and malfunction is red.
exchange
Exchange means emptying the coffee grounds and waste water or refilling the containers at the top.
When it is necessary to change beans, water or coffee grounds, a blue LED on the control unit indicates this.
In addition to the LED, a blue float on the drip tray indicates that the waste water needs to be emptied.
maintenance
One aim with the coffee machine was to communicate the importance of regular maintenance through the design. For this reason, all relevant elements are prominently placed and highlighted in yellow. When maintenance is required, a yellow LED lights up on the control unit as a reminder.
The brewing unit can be removed by unlocking the two yellow levers on the front and then cleaned and serviced.
The spout can also be removed and cleaned by rotating it.
malfunction
In the event of a malfunction, this is indicated by the malfunction LED lighting up red.
Users can then use the hexagonal wrench located under the water tank to loosen the screws on the rear panel, which are also coded red.
As soon as the rear panel has been removed, the inner workings of the machine are revealed and markings on the housing and circuit board show where which component is located and how they are connected. The grinding unit is released by turning it.
