Mobile Fixer Studio at Hayden Library fosters a ‘repair it’ mindset

When you find a small hole in your favorite shirt or wake up to discover your electronic coffee grinder stopped working, what do you do? Buying something new is simple and easy, but when you learn how to repair and mend your broken things, you can save money and help the planet.

At first glance, the Mobile Fixer Studio at Hayden Library is a rolling cart offering a variety of tools to fix broken objects or mend pieces of clothing. But it provides more than that — knowledge and confidence to think and live more sustainably.

Hazal Gumus-Ciftci, assistant professor in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, started the Mobile Fixer Studio program in 2022, first at The Design School and then at ASU Art Museum.

“Designing for sustainability and circularity has been the core of my research for almost two decades,” Gumus-Ciftci said. “As an industrial designer, I realized that more and more products were being discarded for no reason, so repairing and salvaging them has been my primary research focus.” 

The collaboration with the museum inspired Gumus-Ciftci to search for other venues on campus. Hayden Library, which sees thousands of visitors during the day, and the Makerspace on the third floor were the perfect fit. 

“From mending a pair of favorite jeans to 3D printing a missing knob for an old stereo, patrons love the access to the tools a makerspace offers,” said Victor Surovec, director of the Makerspace. “ASU Library’s Makerspace allows students, staff and faculty to work on personal projects and offers a variety of tools to help you be creative in how you fix things. In the process, hopefully, you pick up some new skills.”

Plus, Mobile Fixer Studio helps reduce waste and keeps money in your pocket.

“If we fixed things instead of throwing them away, we would not only make a positive impact on the environment but also buy less and save money. And everyone loves to save money,” Surovec said.

Alexia Lopez Klein, the program manager in Makerspace, works with a team of dedicated library student workers to assess what needs to be fixed and what tools may be necessary.

“Sometimes the repair is simple, such as someone needing a small screwdriver for their eyeglasses. Sometimes the repair is a bit more involved, and we will encourage them to learn a new skill, such as using a sewing machine for mending clothing items,” Lopez Klein said.

One of the most impactful outcomes is boosting confidence and understanding that experimentation is part of the process.

“There’s usually a fear that they might make things worse; however, I remind them that what they are working on is already broken, so they can’t make it worse. In design, we say trial and error is crucial to the process. In practice, this isn't always true: Designers want to get things right, but when we are trying to fix things, trial and error becomes second nature,” Gumus-Ciftci said.

The library is a place where different kinds of learning and experimentation are encouraged — whether through books, online research databases or hands-on skill-building. Makerspace offers drop-in workshops throughout the semester on a variety of topics that help students build new skills.

The Mobile Fixer Studio is student-powered; the cart was built by a former student and ASU graduate, Gabi Peters, while current graduate students Weizong Yang and Elise Quan support the events. The partnership with the Herberger Institute supports Mobile Fixer Studio spring sessions that specialize in different topics, such as mending with needle felting and working with glue. All events can be found on the Makerspace website, where patrons may also schedule individual appointments.

“People want things to last, but due to the fast-fashion and similar industries, items are more prone to needing mending and repairs. Giving a second, and sometimes third, life to an object you love or enjoy using is a great way to begin introducing sustainable practices,” Lopez Klein said.