RSA Design Debate The new technologies of designing and manufacturing promise to reinvigorate local production and to put a rapid prototype, a custom object and a perfect-fit within the reach of millions who never called themselves a designer or craftsman. But do enough of us know enough design to transform this promise into a manufacturing renaissance? While these new ways of making advance... [read more]

RSA Design Debate The new technologies of designing and manufacturing promise to reinvigorate local production and to put a rapid prototype, a custom object and a perfect-fit within the reach of millions who never called themselves a designer or craftsman. But do enough of us know enough design to transform this promise into a manufacturing renaissance? While these new ways of making advance the interests of commercial manufacturers and craft hobbyists, do they also answer a universal human need to fabricate?  Assa Asshuach presents a digital tool under development which allows anyone to specify 3-D objects within parameters set by the designer. Designer Sebastian Conran, open innovation consultant Roland Harwood and additive manufacturing expert Neil Hopkinson join the panel discussion.Chair: Hugh Aldersey-Williams, author of a new RSA Design & Society pamphlet 'The New Tin Ear: materials, manufacturing and the rise of the user-maker'.Find out more about the RSA Design and Society project.Suggested hashtag for Twitter users: #rsadesign