New Project

Open_source: Democratic design.

Not posted in a while but we've just been given an interesting new project that seems like it would be worth documenting.

The new project looks into restrictions on space, multifunction/collapsible products, and flexible living/work environments. Whilst solutions exist within the homogeneity of the mass-produced product, the dawning of new online communities are developing around the appropriation and sharing of user generated content and knowledge, allowing the mass audience to manufacture from their desktop. Consequently this has created new opportunities for designers to both ‘short cut’ conventional large-scale industrial modes of production as well as developing increasingly individual styles and markets.

So in collaboration with Ponoko, a New Zealand based manufacturing community the new project is asking o design, visualise, prototype and produce an ‘open-source design’ for one of the following markets: office, garden or design studio. My final design should serve some purpose, solve a problem or contribute to the well being of that environment. The design should be manufactured from 3 flat sheets which will be laser cut.
For more info visit my open source blog.