Digital Forming is a new London-based company that will allow designers to create products on the internet that customers can customise online and then buy.
Launching at the Science Museum in London later this month, the company will initially offer a range of products including a lemon squeezer (above and below), a pen and a lamp, that customers can manipulate to create their own designs.
The initial range of objects, shown here, have been designed by London designer Assa Ashuach.
Digital Forming will offer two levels of service: ODO – Original Design Object, which allows designers to create new products; and CODO – Co Design Object, whereby designers' creations can be personalised by a "co-designer" or customer.
"Our software has an ‘ODO side’, where a designer can prepare his design (at his studio or home) by setting constraints and ‘opening’ areas within the object geometry," says Ashuach. "‘CODO side’ is the general public online interface, where users can open and personalize their selected objects."
In October, the Digital Forming will launch a sister service called UCODO, offering a CODO service to consumers.
Digital Forming's launch exhibition, Create and Make – Print in 3D, is at the Antenna Gallery, Science Museum, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2DD from 25–27 August 2009. Hours: 11.00–13.00 and 14.00–16.00 (Free entry)
Here's some more information from Digital Forming:
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Digital Forming launches at the Science Museum, London
‘Create and Make – Print in 3D’ at the Antenna Gallery, Science Museum, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2DD 25–27 August 2009 11.00–13.00 and 14.00–16.00 (Free Entry)
Digital forming is a new London based company set up to democratise the personalisation of everyday products. Established in November 2008 by four partners from the science, creative and business sectors, was awarded government funding in May 2009 to develop the vision of an online platform for the ‘Mass Customisation’ of personal designed objects.
Democratisation of Personal Objects
As customers gradually demand greater freedom of choice, designers and brands are faced with new challenges in product diversity, responding through innovative product assembly strategies, 2D interactive pattern modification and coloring of predefined shapes.
Digital forming novel technology offers the modification of products material behaviors, colour and form.
Digital Forming presents a software that allows users to view and personalise the products they are about to buy in a 3D online environment. An array of lifestyle consumer products can be rotated and spun within a virtual 3D space.
Imagine still that these products can be modified in real time - stretched, twisted, embossed, assembled - all with the simple movement of the mouse. Users can adjust form, choose colour and material, save designs in an online library, and purchase when ready for delivery within 2 weeks.
Digital Forming is aware that not everyone is the creative type. Hence, the software offers users the option of Co-Creating and Co-Designing products with professional product designers. By this, a user can ‘tweak’ existing designs to their personal taste within the constraints set by the original designer.
They will never be able to ruin the functionality of a pen, or the balance of a teapot – the software will simply not allow it.
Co Design
In October 09 we will launch our sister company; UCODO.com will introduce an online market place of designed objects for users to personalise and co-do…
Digtial Forming’s approach of Co-Design profoundly challenges the traditional roles of the designer and the user/consumer of a product,and is a revolutionary concept in the history of Design.
The technology that makes Mass Customisation a reality today, and is arguably set to create an Industrial Revolution of the Digital Age, is known as Rapid Manufacturing (‘RM’) or 3D Printing.
