Nobsolete

What it does

The Nobsolete kitchen appliance is a multipurpose and reliable device. It can evolve with users to meet all their cooking needs. Designed with repair in mind, the Nobsolete tool is a virtuous alternative to other kitchen appliances which are impossible to repair and must be thrown away after only a few years.

Your inspiration

Small appliances make up the first source of electronic waste in the world, more than large appliances or phones and laptops (UNITAR 2020). The reason for that: their short life cycle and the lack of repair options. Small kitchen appliances inevitably end up breaking since they are exposed to heat, mechanical constraints, humidity... Yet their design makes any attempt of repair nearly impossible. Most of these products must therefore be replaced after only a few years.

How it works

The Nobsolete kitchen appliance is designed with more durable and reliable components, in order to last longer than its competitors. However, if repairs are needed, they can be performed as the product is designed to be entirely repairable. At any time, Nobsolete stays close to its users, by allowing them to buy new cooking modules to fit their needs or by providing ressources for repairs.

Design process

It became clear early on, when conducting our first interviews and observations, that small kitchen appliances lacked reliability, durability and repairability. We got inspired by electronic companies such as Framework and Fairphone that have more sustainable approaches. Throughout the design process, we aimed to create a product that is easy to understand and simple to use with a focus on ensuring it can be easily repaired if necessary. We took the time to prototype various iterations to refine our approach, ultimately arriving at a design that is intuitive and accessible.

How it is different

Most products designed and sold today follow a model based on obsolescence and irreparability which can be summed up as follows: buy - use - throw away - replace. This causes overproduction and overconsumption; it also explains how we end up with more than 50 million metric tonnes of electronic waste each year. This model can not be sustained anymore. Thus, our project is based on a cycle that can be described as follows: buy - use - repair - use - evolve - use… Ultimately, our goal is to sell fewer new products as time goes on. This business model is not only more respectful to users, but also more sustainable for the environment.

Future plans

We firmly believe in the right-to-repair movement and its environmental and social consequences. Nobsolete’s vision is to rebuild our relationship with our products by fighting against product obsolescence and unnecessary product renewal. This project is a manifesto for the creation of a more repairable world.

Awards

Nobsolete is a graduation project (2022). It got unanimous congratulations from the jury.