OS-Economy

Collaborative design and business models for the circular manufacturing industry

With the OpenStuctures design methodology, objects are designed based on a shared standard. That standard creates an ecosystem in which products become repairable and adaptable, while the components of different products are combinable and can have infinite lives as a result.

By constantly developing new products that exist within a closed system, recovery and reuse is often only possible to a limited extent. In the OpenStructures design methodology, products are designed so that their components and techniques are interchangeable and combinable. Subsequent modifications, repair and reuse are thus easier, making these products last longer.

Within this project, the OS methodology is applied in two cases in the practice of production, sales and (reversible) distribution. By trying out and experimenting, lessons are learned about profitable business models, logistics and cooperation. Two manufacturing companies, Atelier Ternier & Vivalyte, will go through the full chain from design to production and then offer products through alternative business models. Lessons learned will allow further optimisation of the system and address challenges. Circular designs can thus be integrated faster within manufacturing companies.

The expected impact in large-scale implementation is a drastic reduction in materials use by life extension through circular and modular design.

Photo by OpenStructures