Loop - closed loop mass customisation service

Loop is a multi faceted mass customization service.

It Provides an outlet for local and global brands to provide closed loop mass customization to consumers. As well as enabling small scale designers the opportunity to create customisable design solutions for existing products and custom products.

Loop utilises 3D printing technology to create a sustainable, made to order manufacturing system. When 3D printing is used as an alternative manufacturing solution it enables mass customization through flexibility of production lines, the ability to use environmentally friendly closed loop materials, and the ability of a single type of machine to use different materials, and create different aesthetic and structural outcomes.

Loop aims to accelerate the commercialization of mass customization, creating a beneficial alternative to mass produced products. Uniting consumers, brands, and designers around the idea of modular designs, environmentally sustainable materials, and closed loop economic systems.

Loop is most easily understood when divided into 4 sections - Community, Customize, Manufacturing and Recycling.

Overview

Prompt

We aim to utilise a closed loop, environmentally friendly manufacturing solution (additive manufacturing) that will allow the creation of products and systems to enable deeper, more meaningful connections with consumers. this will be achieved by utilising additive manufacturing and environmentally friendly materials.

Inital Thinking

Target Users

Value the envionment and make a shift to envionmenta friendly products and services
Values individuality and customizability particularly in goods and services
millenials aged 24 - 39 years old

Research Methods

Online survey
Research online

Initial questions

How well will our expected Target users adopt the technology and systems used in the mass Customization Process?
Will our target demographic share and relate to the same ethical values as the organization?

bar graph of reasons why consumers want personalization

User Research

Around half of the Consumers felt that customized products can make great gifts, as it involves more emotional investment from the giver, thus making it more emotionally durable and special from the receivers point of view, which extends its life cycle.
People want customized products for its uniqueness, as well as to express their personality, which inhibits emotional connection.
Consumers are often not satisfied with the standard design of products, this means that they would replace those items more frequently and lead to increased consumption.
Consumers find the involvement of themselves in the design fun. the engaging experience can provide more satisfaction with the end product.

Research findings / Pain points

3D printing materials that are environmentally friendly have their own manufacturing and customization constraints
Customers are willing to pay extra, or wait longer for quality goods/services.
Using technology to aid complicated customization processes is essential to be more efficient and effective.

Design Solution

Community

Loop aims to influence the way millennials Consume. By creating a collaborative community, we hope to facilitate direct interaction between consumers, brands, and designers. We are confident this model will empower businesses to embrace sustainable, closed loop mass customization.

lady walking out of phone greeting a man illistration.

Customization

Loop Utilizes a Customization engine that operates as a 'web application' through the main website. The customization engine is an intuitive, uniform system used to customize every product present on the website. Material parameters will be specified by the brands and designers, with the consumer having access to as many customization options as possible. Customers will be able to customise things such as materials, colours, and graphics.

lady showing her illustrations to a friend illustration.

Manufacturing

It is loops objective to establish farm style 3D printing plants. the farm style plants are an emulation of systems that are already in operation globally. We intend to harness this technological system through the application of our mass customization engine and community. The manufacturing plants will operate on a 'made to order' basis, with printers being assigned to manufacture items according to demand. The entire printing system will use only environmentally sustainable materials such as PLA, a bio-degradable plastic made from starch, and Polypropylene, a plastic that can be recycled infinitely.

factory being delivered wood planks by truck.

Closed Loop system

Loop will achieve its goal of an economically and environmentally closed loop system by creating a buy back program. The program has two potential outcomes depending on the quality of the product in question. High quality products will be resold on the website under a used marketplace.