Fixmate
A Hub for Local Repairs & Community Connections
@Parsons, New School of Design
March, 2025
March, 2025
Timeline: 4 months
About
A digital platform designed to make repair culture visible, easy, and social—combatting NYC's fast-paced throwaway culture with connection, community, and accessible solutions.
The Problem
New York City is fast-paced. From broken phones to frayed jeans, the go-to solution is often to toss and replace. But this culture of convenience creates an endless cycle of waste—and most New Yorkers don’t know where to start when it comes to repair.
“Newer is better” has become the norm.
Despite the growing urgency of sustainability, repairing remains:
“Newer is better” has become the norm.
Despite the growing urgency of sustainability, repairing remains:
- Invisible (hard to find shops or know what's repairable)
- Inaccessible (no central resource to guide users)
- Isolating (no sense of community around fixing things)
How can we make repair easy, visible, and social for New Yorkers?
User Pain Points
From early surveys and interviews with students, families and renters in NYC, I uncovered four major barriers.
Solution
Process Chart
Fixmate was created through a 7-step design process. Each phase built on the last to shape a tool that’s clear, community-driven, and easy to use.
Competitive Analysis
I evaluated existing platforms to identify their strengths and where Fixmate could better serve New Yorkers.
I evaluated existing platforms to identify their strengths and where Fixmate could better serve New Yorkers.
Visual & Brand System
Logo
The
Fixmate logo is designed to resemble both a screw head and a sewing button—two simple yet powerful symbols of repair. This dual meaning reinforces Fixmate’s mission to cover a wide range of repairs while emphasizing care, function, and connection.
Advertisement
To bring Fixmate into the physical world, I designed a subway campaign targeting busy commuters. Messaging focuses on quick action and local discovery.
Reflection
Designing Fixmate taught me that the smallest habits can build community—when they’re supported by the right systems.
I learned how to:
Designing Fixmate taught me that the smallest habits can build community—when they’re supported by the right systems.
I learned how to:
- Turn research insights into accessible design decisions
- Create visual language systems that are intuitive and joyful
- Consider both digital and physical experiences in parallel
If I had more time, I would develop:
- A mobile version of Fixmate
- Start a repair workshop IRL
- A points-based rewards system for each successful repair