Improving computer peripherals: exploring modular design
S. Zwanenburg (TU Delft - Industrial Design Engineering)
R. Mugge – Mentor (TU Delft - Responsible Marketing and Consumer Behavior)
Katherine W. Song – Mentor (TU Delft - Knowledge and Intelligence Design)
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Abstract
This project investigated the question: “What role can modularity fulfil in computer peripherals, and how can it be used to improve consumer adoption of sustainable products?” It did so in the context of short life cycles, tightening right-to-repair legislation and the reference brand of Logitech with its ambition to combine sustainability with a great user experience in PC peripherals.
Following Buijs’ product innovation process, the work combined an exploration of modular architectures with an internal analysis of Logitech’s capabilities and initiatives, and an external analysis of modular leaders Framework and Fairphone. Literature on consumer behaviour and sustainable choices was integrated with a requirements framework to connect modularity to repairability, upgradability and user experience.
Digital Nomads were selected as target group through DEPEST and SWOT analyses, then studied via semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to understand their needs, tensions and attitudes to modularity. This led to a case study: a modular laptop hub for Digital Nomads, developed through iterative ideation, weighed-criteria concept selection, prototyping and validation sessions, and embedded in a business model and roadmap including a supporting community platform.
To answer the research question: The findings show that modularity is most effective when it forms a platform that enables repair, refurbishment, upgrade and configuration over time, while addressing concrete user benefits such as flexibility, reliability and compactness. For Digital Nomads, the modular hub demonstrates that such an architecture can support more sustainable behaviour through extended product lifetimes and improved end-of-life handling, provided it is framed around freedom and self-sufficiency, supported by accessible repair information, spare parts and credible modules while being distributed via fitting touchpoints. In this way, modularity can meaningfully improve consumer adoption of sustainable peripherals.