Open Design

G11 5

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Abstract

Over recent years the spirit of Open Design has been ignited. Based on the principles of Open Source, this new model has given birth to a challenging social movement that is co-operative, community-minded and seeks acceptable ways of public sharing creativity. A host of new working practices and professional models are now emerging which extends the community-based model well beyond the domain of software to hardware and thus products. The main aim of this paper is to address the potential effects and implications of emerging Open Design schemes on both the professional and teaching practice of Product Design. The paper builds on current research undertaken in social sciences on open social structures and innovative communities (Shah, 2005) and examines qualitative research from a number of new entrepreneurial ventures, industries and product categories who foster Open Design models. The research will pay particular attention to changes in Property Ownership Rights, User Innovation, Professional Practice Structures and Entrepreneurial Motivation. The paper will also draw from a live case study of a new Open Design Business Model founded by Cordingley and Billing. Co-oproduct (Co-oproduct.org) is a new Community Interest Company set up to explore the potential for a more open, social, and collaborative model for product design. Unlike the traditional proprietary model whereby consumer needs and products are constructed for commercial gain, centred on ReUse, Co-oproduct presents an alternative model for the design of products, one which is community driven and harnesses a more natural, open product design process.