The Modular Product & System Database
A comprehensive resource for modular products and systems - helping consumers build adaptable, sustainable, and cost-effective product ecosystems with compatibility matrices, upgrade paths, and total cost of ownership analysis.
My Junk Drawer Has 5 Dead Devices. Turns Out That's Normal.
5.3 billion old phones sit unused globally, and wearables are now the fastest-growing e-waste category. Here's what the 2024 data actually shows.
We Were Hand-Waving About Modularity for Years. So I Made a Formula.
Tired of vague conversations about "loosely coupled systems"? Here's a simple formula that gives you an actual number for product modularity.
I Spent 3 Years in Product Design Before I Looked at a Kingfisher. That Was a Mistake.
Japan's bullet trains got quieter because an engineer studied a bird's beak. Here's how biomimicry actually works, with real numbers on why it beats traditional design.
I've Tested 17 'Buy It for Life' Products in My Tiny Brooklyn Apartment
Three types of planned obsolescence are killing your devices. Here's what I learned testing 17 products built to last in my 400 sq ft apartment.
I Watched a Client Track 400 Desks in Real-Time. That's When I Understood Product-as-a-Service.
Furniture subscriptions aren't just leasing with extra steps. Here's the tech stack (IoT sensors, lifecycle tracking, circular logistics) that makes it all work.
I Spent 8 Years Organizing NYC Apartments. Matter Changed How I Think About Smart Homes.
Matter finally lets your smart bulbs talk to your smart plugs, no matter which phone you use. Here's how it works and why renters should care.
My Carry-On Face-Planted in O'Hare. Now I Only Buy from These Brands.
7 luggage brands started by travelers who got burned. July's carry-on solved the handle problem I wish I'd known about before my O'Hare face-plant.
I Spent 3 Years Watching Products Fail at My Repair Cafe. The Problem Isn't Parts—It's Interfaces.
After 3 years at a repair cafe, I've spotted the same interface mistakes killing products across industries. Here's the framework to fix yours.
I Asked 47 Architects What Modular Furniture They Actually Specify. Here's What Surprised Me.
47 architects told me what modular furniture they actually put in specs. IKEA made the list. Your Instagram find probably didn't. Here's why it matters.
We Fixed 47 Devices Last Month. Only 3 Had Open-Source Schematics.
47 devices, 3 with open schematics. Here's the 5-point scoring system I use before buying anything, plus which phones actually let you swap a battery in minutes.
My Repair Café Volunteers Showed Me Why Most Furniture Fails by Year 2
Repair café volunteers see the same failures over and over. Particleboard frames, stapled joints, sinuous springs. Here's what actually survives a decade.
The Weird Moment I Realized My Sofa Was Being Judged Like Airline Wing Components
I compared 8 modular furniture trade-in programs, and the tech behind them is wild. Computer vision judges your sofa like it's checking airplane parts.