ONEOFF / Industreal

About

ONEOFF was first established in Milan in 2003, within the context of the “Fabbrica del Vapore” project as a rapid prototyping service which specialized in the manufacture of models, functional prototypes and architectural models geared primarily for the design and architectural sectors.

The workshop produces the models, the prototypes and the plastic models using a combination of innovative technological methods together with traditional mechanical and engineering techniques, all of which are available in house and supported by extremely up to date information technology systems.

Rapid Prototyping (RP) allows the production of objects with a complex geometry, in a few hours and without the need for tools, directly from the mathematical model of the object created using a three-dimensional CAD system. Traditional technologies such as milling machines or numerical control machines put us in a position to create objects in all kinds of materials. The combination of the various techniques available in house, means we are able to choose the best solution to satisfy the client’s requirements in terms of deadlines, cost and quality.

Study models can be created at competitive cost and in a short time, and the product on order may be delivered within 24 - 48 hours depending on the complexity of the object to be made.

Additionally, the mix of techniques and materials means that one can obtain highly original and interesting results in the production of architectural models, for example, where the visual result is of significant importance and production time is always at a premium.

Alongside ONEOFF’s main activity, the company is also involved in developing its own know-how in relation to materials, techniques and innovative processes with the aim of providing support and advice to its client. The company staff, that works very much as a team, is made up of young designers, engineers, and architects with a high level of training and an excellent understanding of CAD 3D systems, as well as working experience in craft and artisan workshops.

As part of the company’s research and development, ONEOFF is exploring the possibilities offered by a new production process that exploits rapid prototyping techniques for the creation of finished products (not just as far as the prototype stage). ONEOFF is evaluating the feasibility of this process by means of experiments involving a variety of different materials and innovative technologies.

— excerpt from www.oneoff.it

Interview Ideas

Company/Lecture:

ONEOFF found a large number of potential customers because the main advantage that they offer is to be able to realize prototypes in a very short time, and at a cheap price.
Through the development of contact with young, good designers, the INDUSTREAL project started. This small group of people discussed what is design, what is design without the limits of production, and focused on the use of IDEAS first of all.
Each technology that ONEOFF has is applied to an exhibition. Each time they buy a machine to use for prototyping they decide to show the technology to the people, everybody not just designers. They do this to show the potential uses that each of the technologies have.
Their projects are not just information technology, but an open source business, in their terms of how they operate openly and freely with other networks and designers. (Open source because they are not a very big company, but have a very large number of designers that supply ideas).
Since they work with designers through technology (the internet and software) they can send input of their culture all over the world. For this reason they have ideas that are sometimes different, but the market enjoys their different ideas. They believe it is a way for the designer to interact and communicate with the global market.

Main Ideas/Interview:

It is important for small companies to enter into the market, of many big companies, through research. To big companies (company structures) – research is important but is not the main activity in that moment in time. The only way for a small company to be in the market and to survive, are to be innovative; to be innovative you have to research.
Another important asset for small companies is flexibility. A small system is often more flexible and manageable compared to a large company or system. Flexibility comes out of looking into a certain culture at a certain time.
Research should not just be focused on research into design. It should also be research into the current cultural environment. This creates new business and new jobs for young people.
Use the global environment to receive the best feedback. There are designers all over the world to receive feedback from, to see from a different perspective, and to get in touch with different cultures.
Prototyping techniques of ONEOFF has influenced Italian Design by helping young designers realize their ideas, and to actually access the prototyping in a faster/easier way.
Universities and the people in the market need to realize it is time to push some young designers out into the field. In Europe there are a lot of young designers who are becoming famous because they are doing a lot of interesting work in the Salone and mainly doing a lot of research.
More and more, technology will be necessary, but we cannot make the mistake that technology is the solution. Technology is just a tool to show ideas, because with technology you can realize any kind of shape at the prototyping stage.
Some of the studios we have talked to put too much emphasis on style, and not enough on the quality of the idea. It is more and more difficult to sell. Therefore, if you don’t have values, that are your own to share with the market, it is very difficult to find your way. Find values and share these values with the market.

Video/Key Quotes

What We Learned

Yet again research among young designers has become the main important focus of this interview. Without the creativity and freshness that young/new designers have to offer, the industry continues to rely on the old designs of the past, and their techniques. If we want change and growth within the industry, we need to start pushing young designers in their own direction, and giving more opportunities to them, such as giving them ways to reach the equipment they need to process and output their ideas as well as provide them an infrastructure that will allow them to actually sell the products that result from these ideas. With the incredible innovations in rapid prototyping that ONEOFF has to offer, products and ideas can be flushed out in record time, which is beneficial for any designer trying to develop their ideas and forms.

ONEOFF also shed light on our ongoing, and sometimes controversial, conversation of technology in the design stream. ONEOFF expresses that technology is needed in the stream, but more importantly should never be seen as the solution to a problem. Technology can be used as a way for designers to spread over and cross over with the world and its many cultures. Technology should be used and showcased, but needs to keep its place as a tool in one’s process. As we create products, it is still always about the idea, but the ease and efficiency that the prototyping machines and laser cutters have to offer, help ideas come out more rapidly, which allows for more rapid changes and development.

Lastly, we were introduced to the importance of mixing the market with our own personal values. As young designers we need to keep our values always by our side, and not get mixed in with the big companies, with their style and decoration. Not only is it important to keep our values, but to share them within the industry, to other designers, other companies, and so on. In order to make a difference in design for the years to come, style and competition needs to be abolished and we need to realize that sharing values and working together is the major tool that we will need in the future to get our ideas out to the world and recognized.