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We Must Shift to a Bespoke Manufacturing Model

“Bespoke” means custom-made and designed to a particular requirement. Local-to-local, bespoke, organized, and automated manufacturing is not without its challenges, but post-pandemic, it may be a better option than relying on a single global provider. ColorKarma’s Shoshana Burgett explains all about bespoke manufacturing and the role of design.

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

I believe we are at a crossroads in design for manufacturing. The past six months highlighted how reliant specific industries are on one simple global provider. The PPE shortage in the United States is a result of this. In our effort to embrace efficiency and lean manufacturing practices, some counties and industries have moved away from multiple regional providers to a single source.

Any single source model is a failure waiting to happen. When a crisis or disruption happens in the supply chain, it’s hard for a single source model to react.

We need a new way of thinking about design for manufacturing. This has been a topic I have discussed with Mike Scrutton from Adobe, Mark Harrop from WhichPLM, and Karsten Newbury from Gerber Technology. To balance our costs, reliance on overseas labor with our drive for innovation, design must shift to a bespoke model.


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About Shoshana Burgett

Colorkarma focuses on design for execution by bringing together unique perspectives on design and manufacturing to ensure a smooth execution on your creative vision the first time. Our mission is to be the leading resource for the creative community providing educational content, industry news, design tips and best practice advice from industry leaders.

Recent Articles from Shoshana Burgett

Digitization on the Road to Digitalization. What Is the Difference?

Digitization on the Road to Digitalization. What Is the Difference?

“Digitization” and “digitalization” sound similar, and it is common for people to confuse their meanings. Digitization focuses on the data required to objectively communicate product requirements, while digitalization is the process required to implement that workflow. ColorKarma’s Shoshana Burgett explains how the apparel industry needs both to successfully lower costs, speed product launches, and deliver sustainability targets. Read More

What a Designer Can Learn from the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit

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ColorKarma’s Shoshana Burgett describes her visit to the Imagine Van Gogh immersive exhibition and explores how the exhibit’s unique approach to providing a user experience can be applied to industry events and consumers’ relationships with brands. Read More

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With Limited Supply Chain Access Small Businesses Face Different Design Challenges

Supply chain issues have forced small businesses to shift their thinking and approach to the form and function of their packaging design. ColorKarma’s Shoshana Burgett looks at some of the top impacts. Read More

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