Georgina Challinor produced “Transformation Station (Revamp)” for a Royal Society of Arts (RSA) 2022 design brief. Challinor’s aim for this project is to design a system whereby local councils can utilise existing small transport hubs, services, and amenities, to better engage the local community and commuters.

As a society we are more likely to disregard or dispose of repairable items because people do not have access to appropriate facilities, or the knowledge to repair them. Challinor saw this as a missed opportunity considering that transportation hubs, that naturally bring people together, are often under-utilised and lacking in services.

The design process started with gaining an understanding of existing community projects, principally through on-line research, which then developed into more personal in-depth primary research activities such as observing, surveying, and interviewing. The feedback from participants suggested they wouldn’t use such amenities, unless convenient and created compelling value. This was further supported by researching small exhibition spaces, and interactive tourist information boards, resulting in the same conclusion – they are not attracting individuals to transport hubs for any other reason than travelling.

Challinor’s “Revamp” creates sustainable value, by offering a service to the local community and commuters to repair essential, practical, and sentimental items, rather than disposing or buying new. Revamp takes advantage of existing transport services and infrastructure to create an accessible and convenient facility that seeks to reduce unnecessary waste.