The book is the result of extensive academic research and is enriched by the experimental outcomes of the NEMO and CYClaDEs projects within the PNRR MICS (Made in Italy Circolare e Sostenibile) program. The research investigates how additive manufacturing, computational design, and generative AI are enabling a shift from rigid mass production to a flexible model capable of responding to the growing demand for uniqueness.
Design for Customization
By Andrea Ratti
Design for Customization examines the evolving landscape of customization in design, analyzing the technological and cultural shifts that are redefining how products are conceived and manufactured.
Through a structured analysis of historical contexts, application scenarios across different sectors – including furniture, personal products, and automotive – and an empirical focus on the yacht industry, the volume connects theoretical reflection with direct industrial experimentation.
It further explores hybrid digital workflows that combine large-scale 3D printing with composite reinforcement, showing how these can overcome traditional tooling constraints. Finally, it addresses broader systemic impacts related to the evolving role of the designer, new required professional skills, and the redefinition of supply chain strategies.
Addressed to scholars, educators, and professionals engaged in design research, the volume offers methodological perspectives for critically understanding the contemporary shift toward advanced forms of customization.
Contributors: Arianna Bionda, Silvia Piardi
Design for Customization is available in the FrancoAngeli open access catalog.