Re: Custom Products

To build off of Shannon's examples,  I found this article from the Harvard Review Board that continues to elaborate on The Four Faces of Mass Customization and finding the right approach to use.

In response to Laura's questions, I can't remember if I've really used customization in things I buy. I think the most customization I've done to products I've purchased would be wedding gifts (wine glasses, photo frames) which usually just includes the brides and grooms names and their wedding date.  I've had a couple shirts made for special events...bacherlorette parties, fundraising walks. But that usually involves me creating my own design and uploading it to a website for print.

To answer your second question, I feel torn about how this effects designers. I definitely understand why consumers want to customize their products. There is this whole movement on how everyone is unique, everyone is their own person. And yes, I agree with that so therefore everyone wants to be able to express their individuality especially on products they purchase and wear. I'm not sure I would personalize a package of Oreo's though. You eat them, then throw the ($15) bag away. I think that just like everything else, there's an extreme, and that might be it.

I also feel that there is this surge of people all of sudden who want to become designers. I see it in new technology commercials that show designers using the newest laptop, or tablet, or software (for example, Microsoft's commercial for the Surface Book shows someone developing a new shoe design in a design software). Before, you never really saw the inner workings of a designer. Now that the profession has become popular, its like a growing trend for everyone to be a designer. I think this creates an issue that not only do more people want to become designers, but that people start thinking anyone can be a designer and knowing Photoshop makes you one. But it doesn't. Sorry, I feel like this is turning into a rant but I'm channeling some not-so-pleasant encounters I've already had with people that have made me feel like my profession as a designer isn't a serious one and that they can do it (without ANY background). And while I chalk it up to many reasons why people feel that an artistic profession isn't a serious one, I think that people can get the wrong idea that because they made some doodle on their shoe, or picked some colors for an Oreo package, that it makes them a designer. But, it doesn't.

I guess you can compare it to reading WebMD and thinking you're a doctor and then self-diagnosing from there on out (its a stretch, but you get my point).

Sorry, rant over.

I do think that as a designer, designing something for mass customization would be an interesting challenge and really forces you to think about all the ways your design can be applied and changed without altering the concept.