The ÉCAL Digital Market Examines Mass Production in Design
Justin Lam — April 23, 2018 — Art & Design
Students from the École cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL) have set up the ÉCAL Digital Market, which features a range of 3D printers to explore the changing nature of the manufacturing process. The pop-up factory was set up as part of Milan Design Week 2018 and transformed a Milanese palazzo into a 3D printing factory capable of printing a range of products on-demand. The ÉCAL Digital Market, open throughout the design event, featured bespoke 3D-printed products designed by students and renowned designers including Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Thomas Kral, Sebastian Wrong and Big-Game.
The use of multiple 3D printers and the factory aesthetic of the pop-up were designed to examine the ways in which mass production could change the design industry. The products featured in the pop-up were carefully designed to be objects that could be created on a large scale with practical applications. This focus makes the ÉCAL Digital Market unique, as it avoids 3D printing performance and focuses on the application of the medium.
The use of multiple 3D printers and the factory aesthetic of the pop-up were designed to examine the ways in which mass production could change the design industry. The products featured in the pop-up were carefully designed to be objects that could be created on a large scale with practical applications. This focus makes the ÉCAL Digital Market unique, as it avoids 3D printing performance and focuses on the application of the medium.
Trend Themes
1. On-demand 3D Printing - The ÉCAL Digital Market explores the potential of creating products on-demand through 3D printing.
2. Mass Customization - The use of 3D printing in the ÉCAL Digital Market exemplifies a trend towards mass customization in manufacturing.
3. Design for Large-scale Production - The focus on practical applications of 3D-printed products at the ÉCAL Digital Market demonstrates a trend towards designing products specifically for large-scale production.
Industry Implications
1. Product Design - The use of 3D printing for mass customization in the ÉCAL Digital Market offers opportunities for product designers to create unique manufactured products.
2. Manufacturing - 3D printing technology could disrupt traditional manufacturing techniques, allowing for on-demand mass production and reducing the need for large-scale factories and supply chains.
3. Retail - The ability to create custom products on-demand through 3D printing presents opportunities for retailers to offer unique products and reduce inventory costs.
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