design

Objects Made to Be Repaired, Not Replaced

Inside the small design movement betting against planned obsolescence.

Emma Lewis
Emma Lewis

April 30, 2024 · 6 min read

Objects Made to Be Repaired, Not Replaced

A growing number of manufacturers are quietly reversing course on one of design's most profitable habits: making things that are cheaper to throw away than to fix.

Modular phones, screw-together furniture, and appliances sold with their own repair manuals are still a niche. But they represent a design philosophy that treats longevity as a feature, not a missed upsell.