Downloadable Design platform, business cases for FabLabs and local production facilities

For the past year Droog Design and Media Guild have been working on the Downloadable Design project. The aim of the project is to create a platform where design goods take the form of a digital blueprint that the consumer takes to the local manufacturer for customizable on-demand production. Through a world wide platform for design distribution two pilots will be implemented to test the developed models and designs.

Possible benefits include lower product costs, less transport and less waste, new design concepts, more variation, possibility of co-creation, lower investment due to no warehousing, more responsive production chains, and involvement of the consumer in the design outcome.

The project currently is ending, delivering a new platform for Downloadable Design that signature designers, brands, manufacturers and the DIY community can use to find each other and the consumer, thus creating new business models for all sides of the production chain.

Media Guild of Waag Society invites the international FabLab community and manufacturing facilities to contact us for information on the platform, the business models and for participation. We want you to be able put the ideas behind the platform to the test and create revenue with the production of DIY and signature design.

For more information, please contact:

Bas van Abel,
Creative director, Waag Society

bas [at] waag [dot] org

Design within Reach is a project of Droog Design and Media Guild.