PRINKO - Repairable Printer
Ideation
Early ideation focused on how to make the internal logic of a printer more understandable. Foam mockups were used to explore spatial layouts, testing ways components might be organized around a modular, drawer-based structure. A key insight came from asking five regular repairers to draw what they imagined was inside a printer, using the surfaces of a closed box. Their intuitive sketches informed the grouping and placement of internal modules.
I explored various material approaches: fabric shells offered customization but raised concerns around durability and dust protection. Sheet metal, while sturdy, exceeded the budget and created disassembly challenges. The drawer system ultimately offered the best balance of repairability, clarity, and cost-effectiveness, allowing each component to be physically and conceptually separated.
Prinko is a modular, repairable home printer designed in response to the frustration, waste, and short lifespan of typical inkjet devices. It reimagines what a printer could be if it were designed to be opened, understood, and maintained by the user. The era of sealed boxes comes to an end. Instead of hiding components behind sealed plastic, Prinko makes its inner workings visible and accessible. By promoting transparency, long-term ownership, and the right to repair, the project challenges the norms of disposable consumer electronics and advocates for more enduring relationships between people and their products.
Client
Royal College of Art
Year
2024-2025
Design Concept
Prinko is made up of three primary modules: the paper feed, the inkhead assembly, and the power supply, each housed in a removable drawer. Users can access the specific area they need to diagnose or repair without dismantling the entire device. Magnetic latches hold the drawers closed during transport, while precision sliders maintain alignment and ensure smooth motion.
Each module includes clear acrylic windows and internal labeling to guide diagnosis and disassembly. There are no hidden fasteners or permanent adhesives. Every design choice, from how drawers slide to how components are secured, was made to reduce friction between the user and the object.
Prototyping & Experimentation
1. User testing at Fixing Factory
2. Printer Dissassembly
3. Foam form exploration
4. Clay form exploration
5. Mechanism testing
6. Testing a corner with filling, sanding, and painting
7. Handle variations for user feedback
8. 3D printed and laser cut prototype
Research
To better understand the field of repair, I conducted interviews with repair enthusiasts and researchers. I started joining community repair events and volunteering with a local repair cafe for observational and hands on research. Here I learned that even experienced repairers regularly turn away printers because of how time consuming they are to fix. Even when they do get accepted, only 38% get successfully fixed. I started taking printers apart myself. It took me over an hour just to get it open. No wonder experienced repairers avoid them.