From 0 to 20: An evolutionary analysis of Open Design and Open Manufacturing

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of the evolution of Open Design and Open Manufacturing from 2000 to 2020. The two phenomena are examined by taking into account real experiences in these fields in order to track the most relevant developments. The first step of the research consisted in the identification of the best-known and most oftencited experiences, which have been collected into four different subsets, according to their type, and organized into a chronological visualization. The second step of the research involved the identification and description of three case studies, one for each of the main types: Instructables, OpenStructures and Precious Plastics. Finally, the paper identifies three main time frames, and expresses the constructive and the critical aspects of the two open processes, concluding with a speculation on three possible futures.

Reconceptualising stakeholders for the management of distributed value creation networks through open design‐led businesses

“…The open design approach has created much enthusiasm at the beginning of new millennia through the opportunities conceptualised around it, and after twenty years, it is also possible to observe the consolidation of certain open design practices (Gasparotto, 2020) Zindy & Heeks, 2017). These practices, however, are interrelated and should be formalised in tandem.…”

“…The open design approach has created much enthusiasm at the beginning of new millennia through the opportunities conceptualised around it, and after twenty years, it is also possible to observe the consolidation of certain open design practices (Gasparotto, 2020). Such open practices are discussed as open‐source technologies, open governance, open innovation, open business model through value share, open access and open production (Seo‐Zindy & Heeks, 2017).…”

Seven observations and research questions about Open Design and Open Source Hardware

“…Open Design plays a role in postindustrial visions inspired by digitalisation and the increased capacity of individuals to access fabrication capabilities. Among these visions, we can cite 'commons-based peer production' (Benkler & Nissenbaum 2006), 'personal fabrication' (Kohtala 2014), 'direct digital manufacturing' (Chen et al 2015), 'bottomup economy' (Redlich, Moritz, & Wulfsberg 2019), 'distributed economy' (Johansson, Kisch, & Mirata 2005), 'open manufacturing' (Gasparotto 2020) and the motto 'design global, manufacture local' (Kostakis et al 2015). In opposition to the dominant modes of industrial production and consumption and motivated by Jochem (2018).…”

Local and distributed manufacturing during the COVID-19 pandemic: Is crisis a window of opportunity for sustainable development in the Global South?

“…Within design research, it is nearly a decade since Manzini (2011) called for the cultivation of small, local, open and connected communities to promote sustainability. In recent years, distributed manufacturing has become more widely studied in the design field (Gasparotto, 2020;Menichinelli, 2020;Menichinelli et al, 2020). However, with few exceptions previous work on distributed manufacturing has taken place in the Global North (Rauch et al, 2016), and the impact of distributed manufacturing on sustainability has largely focused on environmental concerns (Kohtala, 2015).…”