Keep the Phone: Fairphone and the Diffusion of Repairable Design

If a smartphone company asked you to do something incredibly unexpected, they would exclusively urge you to maintain your phone. In this episode of Decisions at the Fulcrum, we look at Fairphone, a Dutch smartphone company that developed its brand around repairability, modular design, replaceable parts, and a subtle disruptive premise: a device does not have to be treated as disposable when the battery dies, the camera wears out, or the crowd begins muttering about the upcoming model. The Fairphone case doesn't represent a mere fantasy. It's an bona fide device found in many European countries. The current episode focuses thought on the practice of repairability as product advantage and communication strategy. Fairphone invites customers to look at their devices as a maintainable. The component parts can accessed and replaced by users, allowing them to keep it longer than many learned was feasible. Batteries, cameras, displays, and spare components become indications of autonomy and consistency. In this episode, I go to Amsterdam, where the idea was advanced, and read about diffusions of innovation to understand the case. Adoption is measured by perceived benefits, compatibility with established routines, complexity, trial, and observability. A changeable battery seems reasonable until you have to purchase the item, locate a tool, read the manuals, and then decide whether the repair is feasible. Fairphone exemplifies how innovation occurs as upkeep that's gradual, and, perhaps more a valuable decision to hold onto. Note: 🎵Track by Makesoundmusic from Pixabay. Commercial Use Allowed Licensing