Open Design will affect the design profession- the cat is out of the bag in terms of Distributed Digital Manufacturing (e.g. 3D Printing), what is the role of the designer when people can design for themselves?



Are we doomed to 'Lasercrud' products, or can design offer new ways to collaboratively design, or nurture design and innovation from Lead Users? (von Hippel, 2005)



These slides were used to present to second year undergraduate students on the Product Design BA course at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK.