They are ways to do Kickstarter even if you don't live in the US or UK, most involve a little extra cost of setting up a company or finding a friend you trust. (Have never done it)
122 karma · joined September 27, 2011
Accepting that people have a need to sublet avoiding the cost of a empty room is combined with the community's need not to have weirdo's. Despite being in the center of London, it is like a small village.
What hasn't been included so far is the need for a airbnb host to include his community needs which is presumably where the law is coming from.
Being in London, this is like staying up late to watch the superbowl! :)
In the case of normal printing, the desktop printer didn't kill the rotary printing press, (althought the internet digital press may). Desktop printers and rotary printing presses exist for different use cases. Printing notes to red mark or travel tickets vs. a glossy magazine/newspaer. The relationship is akin to 3D printing plastic / injection moulded plastic and will likely have different use cases.
But the average joe is unlikely to own a kiln either and unlikely to own any form of industrial pre+post-process. Disruptive manufacturing is my main interest as well as the new models of digital distribution. I believe the home will be an extremely limited means of production, but indeed a computer controlled plastic extruder (3D printer) will be an accessible technology many can own.
I presume YC attracts a certain target audience of generally 'people who build things.' . Wonder did YC without an idea change the target audience?
I think this whole comment can be summarised by the line of 'do you trust us?' The answer is currently no which is fine, but over time, we might just win you over.
On touch, I completely agree. - Buying something small to test out the system such as our stool we currently have on kickstarter. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jamesmcbennett/this-stoo... - Targeting coffee shops to show the furniture - Pop-ups and so on... - Also seeing it at a friends house would count too. - Creating surround sound of postive karma within a city.
Responability is an intersting one for any of these new digtial-to-physical systems. Teaching on 3D printing at General Assembly, we get deep into discussions on the wider aspects of law, quality control and future of quality marks in this new system. Great example you mention Foxconn -> Apple and Apple host reputation on the line. I think Fabsie's reputation is on the line in this case.
At the moment, crowdsourced people = some of the best designers in the best offices in the world who most people don't have access to. When I was working in design offices, most designers (architects in this case) had the problem that we wanted to design a mass product but had no platform to do so.
We are starting in Plywood and will expand into other materials. I am influenced by designers like Marc Newson who can sell the same form at $300, $3,000 and £300,000 depending on what material the chair is made of. We intend to start in Plywood, then offer solid wood and add other digital-to-physical machines.
If we want to offer furniture specific to airbnb users that is more privacy orientated, we do so. If we want a desk for the guy that works from home with his dog and wants a desk/doghouse to suit his life, we do so. If we want a bookshelf for the phaidon buyer that needs specific bookshelf dimensions, we do so. (Or rather will do so....) Lastly, when you look at the designs done, they are mind-blowingly cool. (I used to work for one of the world's top design offices, so have a strong network there.)
I agree with many of your points, thanks for taking the time to write them, much appreciated, but want to put these challenges to the test as I strongly believe several of them can be overcome.
I see complexity such as this http://www.dezeen.com/2008/10/27/joints-by-nathan-wierink/ going mass market.
Also there are many things this model can do that IKEA cannot do and cannot switch their model to doing, most obviously the long tail of design.
i) CNC - 1951 - Not new at all - However its price point is completely new dropping 10X in price since my university paid $250,000 for theirs, now $20,000. Also skills are increasing rapidly no longer limited to several schools, but being taught everywhere.
ii) There will always be costs. Given the drop in costs above to use CNC on-demand means the costs are reasonable to get this started. Ten years ago would have been impossible.
iii) Can the end-user/maker finish the stool (paint/varnish)
iv) Working with raw wood which has its market. It's not everyone, but I believe large enough to get this started. Other options are available later, melamine would be easiest and ot expand this system into solid woods.
v) With the right designs none of the additional labour you mention is needed. http://creativecncdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/cnc-...
Business Model Get wood sent to you cut - no hassle - Paid. Get a file to download - know what you are doing - Free
Depending on designer preferences, when someone sends me a design, I will ask what license they prefer suggesting CC NC.
I think some do, but remembering this 3min talk by Derek Sivers http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movemen... about leaders and followers, we need more followers than leaders. Once a lead investor is established, bring on the followers, startups need traction with investors too of which not everyone can be there first.
The question becomes which investors are known leaders and which ones are followers.