Design for Customization

Design for Customization explores the evolving landscape of customization in design, analyzing the technological and cultural shifts redefining how products are conceived and manufactured.
Growing out of extensive academic research and enriched by the experimental outcomes of the NEMO and CYClaDEs projects from PNRR MICS (Made in Italy Circolare e Sostenibile), the volume investigates how Additive Manufacturing, Computational Design, and Generative AI are enabling a transition from rigid mass production to a flexible model capable of responding to the demand for uniqueness. Through a structured analysis spanning historical contexts, cross-sector application scenarios (furniture, personal use products, and automotive), and a deep empirical focus on the yacht industry, the research connects theoretical reflection with direct industrial experimentation. It explores how hybrid digital workflows—merging large-scale 3D printing with composite reinforcement can overcome traditional tooling constraints. Furthermore, it addresses the broader systemic impacts on the evolving role of the designer, new workforce competencies, and redefined supply chain strategies.
Addressed to scholars, educators, and practitioners engaged in design research, this work offers methodological perspectives to critically navigate the contemporary shift toward advanced customization.