ReCover: Repurposing Obsolete Smartphones for a Sustainable Future

A Conceptual Service by Anastasia Klimova

ReCover is a conceptual service offered by smartphone manufacturers that helps non-tech-savvy users repurpose their obsolete phones into useful devices. The intelligent ReCover app allows users to find a suitable repurpose solution, saving phones from the landfill and acquiring new useful hardware for less. ReCover is intended to be offered directly by device manufacturers who can profit from old devices by providing subscription-based services without developing new hardware.

The ReCover hardware was designed to be extremely affordable and is made of injection-molded recycled ABS plastic, using off-the-shelf elements such as bi-colored LED panels. On the inside, memory foam was used to ensure that phones of a wide range of thicknesses can be secured. Other materials, such as 70% transparent optical beamsplitter glass and extra thick 200gsm vellum, were used to discreetly house the smartphone inside the ReCover webcam and touchpad cases, respectively.

The ReCover service works by having users download the ReCover app and launch an intelligent hardware and firmware scan. Based on the phone's condition, the app provides users with options of what their phone can become. Users then order the ReCover kit of their choice. When the kit arrives, the app erases the current operating system and installs a new one that optimizes the phone for its new role. It takes less than 5 minutes to put the phone in the ReCover case, set it up, and start using it as an entirely new product.

Market analysis, user interviews, and surveys were conducted to gain research insight for the ReCover project. The goal was to determine which users were most likely to have old phones and what their needs were. Research revealed that users in developed countries were more likely to hoard old technology devices. Millennials, the target market for this project, were found to need simple and affordable repurpose solutions the most due to a combination of financial challenges, higher environmental awareness, and being the most DIY-averse demographic.

Despite challenges such as fitting a wide range of phones of different sizes and integrating software across various phone manufacturers, the ReCover project successfully overcame these obstacles. Research into the complexities of jailbreaking and rooting led to the conclusion that the service would have to be offered by the company that released the original operating system. This opened up the possibility of a dedicated OS that would tailor the phone's system for the chosen repurpose solution.

ReCover is not only a solution to the growing e-waste problem but also a way for smartphone manufacturers to contribute to a more sustainable future. By repurposing old devices, ReCover helps reduce waste and provides users with affordable and functional products. Anastasia Klimova's innovative concept has been recognized with an Iron A' Design Award in the Sustainable Products, Projects, and Green Design category in 2021. This award acknowledges ReCover as a well-designed, practical, and innovative creation that meets professional and industrial requirements, contributing to a better world.