Schillaci - Product configurators. Tools for the personalisation and customisation of objects.

Product Configurators

This book provides a source of inspiration and a manual for designers, entrepreneurs and professionals who are looking into the practical application of product configurators. In this growing profession, there is a need for a book which focuses on the configuration process from a design perspective. The book delves into the practical application of configurators using case studies of selected firms that present their most significant works. It offers the reader tips, suggestions, technical details and critical issues which need to be considered, from experienced actors and pioneers worldwide, which include:

Unfold, Belgium

In-flexions, France

Nervous System, USA

Okinlab, Germany

SkimLab, France

Twikit, Belgium

INDG, The Netherlands

ZeroLight, United Kingdom

3Dimerce, The Netherlands

3DSource, USA

Bagaar, Belgium

MyCustomizer, Canada

Combeenation, Austria

Fabio Schillaci works as an architect in Berlin (Germany) and has been internationally awarded for his work on digital design and visualization. For his research as well as numerous individual projects, he has dealt intensively with the topic of digital technology application to mass customization, personalization and product configuration.

Product Configurators

Tools and Strategies for the Personalization of Objects

Edited by Fabio Schillaci

First published 2018

by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

and by Routledge

711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2018 selection and editorial matter, Fabio Schillaci; individual chapters, the contributors

The right of Fabio Schillaci to be identified as the author of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

Publishers Note

This book has been prepared from camera-ready copy provided by the authors.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Schillaci, Fabio, 1977- editor.

Title: Product configurators : tools and strategies for the personalization of objects / edited by Fabio Schillaci.

Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2018. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017030230| ISBN 9780415790123 (hb : alk. paper) | ISBN 9780415790130 (pb : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781315213576 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Configuration managemnent. | Product design. | Mass customization.

Classification: LCC TS171.55 .P76 2018 I DDC 658.5/752--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017030230

ISBN: 978-0-415-79012-3 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-0-415-79013-0 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-315-21357-6 (ebk)

Typeset in Sabon and Akzidenz Grotesk

by Fabio Schillaci

To Carlo and Aurelia

CONTENTS

Frank T. Piller and Ning Wang

Paul Blaek

Fabrizio Avella and Saverio Albano

Fabio Schillaci

LArtisan Electronique

Vase#44 series and KiLight

Kinematics

form.bar

Jweel, online personalized jewelry

Mr. Maria Night Lamp Configurator

Amikasa 3D Room Designer

Pagani Huayra

Leolux Creator

Elkay configurator

BekaertDeslee configurator

SUUNTO configurator

SaaS Configurator Management System

Reyk Buchenberg

Figures

Tables

The editor would like to express his genuine gratitude to all the contributors for having believed in and generously supported such a courageous book: Frank T. Piller for offering his profound knowledge on Mass Customization; Ning Wang for her support and time; Paul Blaek for sharing his experience and knowledge of the Configurator Database; Fabrizio Avella and Saverio Albano for highlighting the importance of visuals in configuration; Reyk Buchenberg for having carried out the very difficult task of writing a tutorial for non-experts on building a configurator. In addition the editor would like to thank all the companies presented in this book and their clients for giving permission and detailed insight into their works. It was an honor that they participated and an occasion from which the editor has learned a lot. Great appreciation finally goes to Francesca Ford and Trudy Varcianna for their gentle and professional support during the difficult path of the book.

Besides this, the editor would like to thank private persons who directly or indirectly contributed to this book: Asif Shah for copyediting and supporting the proposal during the whole review phase; Natascha and Philipp Meuser for their trust in the editor and for having transmitted to him the passion and art of editing a book; Daniela Donadei for the layout fundamentals; Mareike O. Kleine for her words concerning the importance of making a book in which to believe; Nora and Vincenzo Mercurio for sharing their experience; Patrick Laubner for his input concerning programming books; Daniele Bolazzi, Riccardo Serradifalco, and Alli Traina for their motivation; Niels Fischer for his feedback; Anja Dix, Rosaria de Canditiis and especially Christopher Richter for their support and feedback during the whole process; Lars Berger, Christian Kimmich, Richard Fuchs, and Johannes Rupp for motivation during difficult moments; Guido Schillaci and Lenka Drazanova for their comments and explanations; Carlo, Aurelia, Anna, Antonio, Giancarlo, Marina, Eliseo, Alice, and Cristina for their continuous presence; Julienne, Karl, and Jeanne for their patience and love.

While the existing literature deals mainly with economic efficiency and engineering in Mass Customization, this book focuses on configurators and the configuration process from a design perspective. Far from being an academic attempt to codify the discipline, it aims at contributing to the general discussion and approaching a wider audience. This book also points to inherent social and cultural implications of product configuration that were dealt with poorly until now.

The first part of the book builds the context for the discussion. After introducing Mass Customization, it defines configurators and their evolution in recent years; this is followed by consideration of the role of representation and technology in product configuration, and this part ends with an introduction to the social and cultural implications of Mass Customization.

The second and main part of the book expands the discussion through practical application of configurators with case studies of selected firms who were interviewed about the genesis of their respective projects. The entered answers have been selected, restructured, and slightly adapted in third person to create narratival homogeneity among the offices, yet maintaining as much as possible their original words and different style. The collection ranging from conceptual to commercial applications brings together experienced actors from the fields of design, communication, programming, video games, and software as a service to provide a conceptual and empirical work that helps readers understand significant aspects within the realm of configurators.