In the following two videos, Fairphone executives discuss with David the company and the design of the Fairphone regarding:

• • • Basic idea and business model
    • Classification in the circular economy by applying the design for repair idea
    • Design solutions in detail, and practice
    • Background information about design decisions and differentiation of ordinary products

• It is possible to design a sustainable smartphone combined with a transparent business model with a special product placement on the market.
• Circularity is the aim. This is achieved by a product which can be repaired by customers very easily.
• Easy repair by customers is the lowest level of repair and the simpliest and best way from a Circular Economy point of view.
• Details of the design
  easy access
  easily removable battery
  no tools needed until the display is dismounted
  other functional parts are combined to modules, which can be placed with a screwdriver
  upgrading is possible
  documentation on the modules
• Online tutorials were made together with ifixit.com.

• Main aim of the product design: normal phone from the user’s perspective, but accessible, modular, fair supply chains, easy to open and fix.
  
• For comparison: common phones should be thin as possible, full of functions and features and are very cost oriented designed.
• Functional solutions for the aim: other opening solutions with other mechanical connectors than in common smartphones.
• There is a difference between “Design for disassembling” and “Design for easy disassembling”.
• Manufacturing companies are often afraid of customers repairing things for themselves and suppliers are as well. Reasons are the missing experiences with a design for repair done by customers and that they are not used to this way of thinking about solutions.
• For solutions: look at role models for the many functions of the product!
• Keep it in use for longer! Remember the availability of spare parts, the possibility of upgrade-modules and new software.
• The durability of products which are easy to be repaired should be tougher than common products.