i heart factories

in the early morning hours before most of us are awake, the late-night shift is heading home, and the first shift is arriving at the factory door. the rotation is a daily rhythm and delicate balance that depends upon the volume of customer orders.

the manufacturing system is a fluid integration of the right labor, sales, marketing, and desired designs. then, to make the product, the manufacturer requires the necessary parts and materials just in time. finally, distribution must reach the market and consumer with accuracy, speed, and remedy when things go wrong. the entire process is bound to sustainability, an objective whose fulfillment is unique to each producer.

corning glass works production line

airline dishware manufactured by corning - cia

i’ve been lucky to work with factories as an insider guiding the design of products and their engineering development, and as an outsider creating new ideas from scratch. from intimate european manufacturers obsessed with their craft to big factory teams sweating the quality of machine-made products, each encounter reveals the ingenuity of teamwork.

steelcase/brayton furniture production line

as fabrication technologies and shape-shifting materials, like 3d printing or 4d weaving emerge, the factory model changes to follow suit. now, a consumer may order a bespoke pair of shoes printed at the moment of order. now, a consumer may order a bespoke pair of blue jeans created from their online body avatar.

whatever the future, the harmony of people, technology, and machines is this designer’s happy place.

3d printed modular dwelling concept - cia