Since at least the early ’90s, we’ve been hearing that Mass Customization is going to change the consumer landscape, but by and large, we still buy manufactured goods the way we have since the middle of last century. With the exception of custom-crafted luxury goods like bespoke tailored suits and mega-yachts, most of our purchases are still very standardized, and “customization” means picking the 256GB hard drive over the 128GB, or selecting the Sport Package for your new car. Physical product customizers such as Nike iD and Moto Maker have earned strong customer followings, but they’re still closer to “designed for me” than the “designed by me” experience we’ve been promised.
Welcome to the “Designed By Me” Era
Big developments in manufacturing are finally making mass customization a reality.
November 27, 2013