The rapid growth of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) has led to a significant increase in electronic waste (e-waste), highlighting the need for more sustainable product lifecycles. Repair is a key strategy within the circular economy, yet consumers often replace products even when repair is feasible, particularly in the domain of small household electric appliances.

This project explores how product design can encourage do-it-yourself (DIY) repair by making repair opportunities more visible, approachable, and intuitive through the use of affordances and signifiers in the product embodiment. A mixed-method approach was applied, including a literature review, field research at Repair Cafés, product analyses, and user interviews. Based on these insights, a set of design principles for facilitating DIY repair was developed and applied in a case study of an electric shaver.

The findings show that repair affordances form the structural foundation of repairability by reducing physical and cognitive effort, while signifiers play a crucial role in communicating the intended repair actions to users. By making repair actions perceivable, interpretable, and trustworthy, signifiers reduce psychological barriers and increase user confidence. Together, affordances and signifiers transform repair from an uncertain and intimidating process into a more guided and accessible experience.

These results demonstrate the importance of integrating both structural and communicative design strategies to support consumer repair behavior, contributing to more sustainable product use and reduced e-waste. ... Read more