01.
NOTHING’S LONGEVITY PROPOSAL
This project outlines an innovation roadmap to transform Nothing from its current state to an envisioned future, in which smartphone longevity is core to its value proposition.
Year: 2024
Status: Complete
The smartphone industry’s linear consumption model is highly profitable, but has devastating environmental and social impacts.
The Longevity Revolution
Longevity, championed by pioneers in the sustainable smartphone space, Fairphone, emerges as the cornerstone of a sustainable smartphone strategy.
85% of C02 emissions can be attributed to the production phase.
The Mission
Despite rising demand and growing regulatory pressures, Nothing is yet to integrate longevity into its core business offering. The aim is to develop:
a longevity-based, repairability-focused strategy for Nothing’s smartphones.
Research Approach
Guided by the Transition Design Framework, this research employed expert interviews, surveys, competitive analysis, trends forecasting and reverse engineering workshops to assess industry shifts, and inform repairability-focused strategies.
Research Insights
Surveys showed varying degrees of interest around repairability. Teardown workshops highlighted design challenges.
78% of Nothing's community rate themselves as technically competent, but 53% avoid repairs due to damage concerns.
Market Insights
Converging trends signal an evolution towards more mindful, AI-enhanced device interactions, new form factors and continued growth in the budget-range segments.
There's going to be a new operating system, without apps.
Beautiful, Accessible, Sustainable.
Nothing is uniquely positioned to fill this space, with growth through value proposition design rather than frequent upgrades. Its presence in India further strengthens its potential for a repairability-focused strategy.
Nothing’s North Star Vision:
To lead the smartphone longevity revolution by delivering repairable, beautiful devices that make sustainability accessible to all.
Stakeholder Management
This research engaged a diverse set of stakeholders, including Nothing employees, industry experts, and consumers. Expert interviews provided insights from sustainability consultants, repair advocates, and product strategists, while consumer surveys captured attitudes toward repairability.
The Transition
The roadmap is structured into six workstreams, each containing detailed workpackages to guide Nothing’s transition.
All visual assets featured herein were designed in collaboration with Belgium-based industrial designer Oliver Aldous, I thank him for his involvement in this project.
Phase 1 Goals
This phase reduces repair anxiety, enhances battery accessibility, establishes a repair ecosystem through an iFixit partnership and lays the groundwork for compliance with evolving EU regulations.
Key Insight:
Perceived obsolescence is driving upgrade cycles, now more than planned obsolescence.
Phase 2 Goals
This phase prioritises non-destructive disassembly, business model adaptation for circularity and developing IP65 rated, repairable devices.
Key Insight:
Non-destructive disassembly is the key.
Phase 3 Goals
Nothing evolves into a leader in circular design, focusing on component recovery. Market trends show a shift from frequent hardware upgrades to longevity-driven design, reinforced by AI integration and digital wellness movements.
Key Insight:
