Brose Campus Shuttle

As part of the “Product Analysis and Construction” course at UID, I developed a concept for a home-use electric screwdriver designed for the brand iFixit - a company known for its commitment to DIY electronics repair, user empowerment, and sustainable product practices. The project combined parametric SolidWorks modeling with a deep dive into injection molding design, challenging us students to create functional prototypes and manufacturable parts with a focus on recyclability and reparability.

Inspired by iFixit’s mission - and my own early experiences repairing computers and phones - began by analyzing a very basic commercial electric screwdriver to reverse-engineer its internal architecture. This teardown process helped me understand the spatial and mechanical constraints of components such as the motor, gearbox, battery, and trigger mechanisms, which would all be re-integrated into a new design aligned with iFixit’s core values: transparency, durability, and material mindfulness.

The result is a refined three-part housing, designed for single-material injection molding to ensure ease of disassembly, straightforward repairs, and efficient recycling.The design also incorporates a magnetic bit holder and a bit converter, echoing the clever feature of iFixit’s Precision Bit Screwdriver.

Inspired by the book "Design for Recycling - principles from the PolyCE consortium", funded by the European Commission, this project focused the critical role of industrial designers in supporting the stepping stones towards a circular economy. Through strategic material choices, no glued parts, a modular construction, and minimized mixed-material assemblies, this screwdriver is an example of how thoughtful design choices can extend product lifespans and steer the environmental impact by reducing, reusing and recycling.