Repair-Ready Design

Platform 21 has posted an 11-point "Repair Manifesto" expounding upon the greatness of repairing things instead of replacing them. It's a great philosophy, and there are some excellent points - my favorites:

"Repair is not anti-consumption. It is anti- needlessly throwing things away.

"Making repairs is good for the imagination. Using new techniques, tools, and materials ushers in possibility rather than dead ends."

"Don't be a slave to technology - be its master. If it's broken, fix it and make it better." (Emphasis added.)

And the recommendation for designers: "Things should be designed so that they can be repaired."

Ah, so true. Designers would love to package everything neatly for the consumer and keep all the magic hidden inside the "black box." But it's hubristic to think that your design is perfect or that your product will never break. Designing to allow repair can give the product a longer life with the user, and the positive experience of an easy repair may overshadow any negative experience of the damage that required it. Happier users, less waste - something to think about!
[via MAKE]