Possibility-Driven Spins in the Open Design Community

Abstract

This case study is a description of the open design community. The study identifies the main characteristics and methods of operation that frame and drive activities in the community. Qualitative research methods were mainly employed to gather and analyse the data. Work in the open design community is collaborative; it is a symbiosis of interests between profit-making companies and members of the community resulting in win–win situations. A word spin in the title of this paper indicates fast turns in the practices of the open design community. The study also proposes a potential direction for the future development of self-sufficient design and production of artefacts, platforms and services in an almost untouched area of scientific research.

Keywords:

• 3D printing
• open design community
• peer production

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our great appreciation to the open design community for participating in the interviews and the resultant information concerning open design methods of operation. In addition, we would like to thank the anonymous reviewers of The Design Journal for their insightful and constructive feedback that strengthened our scientific approach and enabled the publication of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pia Tamminen

Pia Tamminen, M.Sc. (Tech), is a doctoral candidate at Aalto University, School of Science, Finland. Her research is focused on collaborative design management in design –oriented communities.

Jarkko Moilanen

Jarkko Moilanen, M.Sc. (Soc.), is a doctoral candidate at the University of Tampere, Finland. His main research interests are P2P communities, motivations to participate in peer production and open design practices. Jarkko is the founder of Statistical Studies of Peer Production, an open platform focused on P2P communities: http://surveys.peerproduction.net.