Comments on: Studio:ludens have Developed some Great Tools, but are they What Consumers Want? http://no-retro.com/home/2008/11/20/studioludens-have-developed-some-great-tools-but-are-they-what-consumers-want/ Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:31:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Wouter Walmink http://no-retro.com/home/2008/11/20/studioludens-have-developed-some-great-tools-but-are-they-what-consumers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-259 Wouter Walmink Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:35:53 +0000 http://no-retro.com/home/?p=230#comment-259 Thanks so much for such an in-depth analysis of our tools. We appreciate your attention and read your article with great interest. The playful unpredictability of the tools is a result of our experimentations with trying to find a balance between control and surprise. Designing a tool that has (close to) no learning curve and still offers a lot of good reults in a short time with the user in control is truly a balancing act! The purpose of these tools is to awake the creative flow in people. During the Dutch Design Week, about 150 people created their own designs at our exhibition. Given short timeframe and the type of people (no wizzkids or designers, but a mixed group of everyday people), the results were remarkably good! The faces of the people taking their own coaster designs home (we had a laser cutter on the spot) were priceless. Regarding your discussion about the chronology of the tools: our tools were indeed launched somewhat before Shapeways'. Thanks so much for such an in-depth analysis of our tools. We appreciate your attention and read your article with great interest.

The playful unpredictability of the tools is a result of our experimentations with trying to find a balance between control and surprise. Designing a tool that has (close to) no learning curve and still offers a lot of good reults in a short time with the user in control is truly a balancing act!

The purpose of these tools is to awake the creative flow in people. During the Dutch Design Week, about 150 people created their own designs at our exhibition. Given short timeframe and the type of people (no wizzkids or designers, but a mixed group of everyday people), the results were remarkably good! The faces of the people taking their own coaster designs home (we had a laser cutter on the spot) were priceless.

Regarding your discussion about the chronology of the tools:
our tools were indeed launched somewhat before Shapeways’.

]]> By: csven http://no-retro.com/home/2008/11/20/studioludens-have-developed-some-great-tools-but-are-they-what-consumers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-258 csven Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:34:06 +0000 http://no-retro.com/home/?p=230#comment-258 studio:ludens has been around for at least a year, I'd guess, based on my recollection of a conversation about the site with the designer over on Design Sojourn and the copyright date on the site (2007). Shapeways launched this past summer. But what I'm most wondering is whether there's a connection between the two given their geographic proximity. In addition, studio:ludens has an account on the Product Design Forums and when Shapeways launched they seemed to be promoting them (I had a brief exchange with them regarding IP and liability issues). studio:ludens has been around for at least a year, I’d guess, based on my recollection of a conversation about the site with the designer over on Design Sojourn and the copyright date on the site (2007). Shapeways launched this past summer. But what I’m most wondering is whether there’s a connection between the two given their geographic proximity. In addition, studio:ludens has an account on the Product Design Forums and when Shapeways launched they seemed to be promoting them (I had a brief exchange with them regarding IP and liability issues).

]]> By: matt http://no-retro.com/home/2008/11/20/studioludens-have-developed-some-great-tools-but-are-they-what-consumers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-257 matt Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:20:19 +0000 http://no-retro.com/home/?p=230#comment-257 Hi C Sven, The "Following on from Shapeways" remark just comes from what I know. I heard about Shapeways before studio:ludens, and looking at their blog it seemed they 'went public' in February this year. But it could be studio:ludens were around well before Shapeways as you say. I certainly didn't mean to imply that one copied the other, so I hope it doesn't come across that way. Sivam, I agree the tools are full of surprises, and that's what creates the character of the tools. I'm interested that you say this isn't for consumers though. Who do you see this aimed at? Hi C Sven,

The “Following on from Shapeways” remark just comes from what I know. I heard about Shapeways before studio:ludens, and looking at their blog it seemed they ‘went public’ in February this year. But it could be studio:ludens were around well before Shapeways as you say. I certainly didn’t mean to imply that one copied the other, so I hope it doesn’t come across that way.

Sivam, I agree the tools are full of surprises, and that’s what creates the character of the tools. I’m interested that you say this isn’t for consumers though. Who do you see this aimed at?

]]> By: csven http://no-retro.com/home/2008/11/20/studioludens-have-developed-some-great-tools-but-are-they-what-consumers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-256 csven Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:14:59 +0000 http://no-retro.com/home/?p=230#comment-256 "Following on from Shapeways" I first became aware of studio:ludens well before Shapeways launched. Now I'm confused. How long was Shapeways in (stealth) development? I've not taken the time to do much research into their background. "an experiment to create a 3D form based on the ’shape’ of a persons voice." Cool to see this. Thanks. Wish I'd had this example when I blogged about using a sound as input data for fabbing ( http://blog.rebang.com/?p=1426 ). The visual would have made a compelling statement. “Following on from Shapeways”

I first became aware of studio:ludens well before Shapeways launched. Now I’m confused. How long was Shapeways in (stealth) development? I’ve not taken the time to do much research into their background.

“an experiment to create a 3D form based on the ’shape’ of a persons voice.”

Cool to see this. Thanks. Wish I’d had this example when I blogged about using a sound as input data for fabbing ( http://blog.rebang.com/?p=1426 ). The visual would have made a compelling statement.

]]> By: sivam http://no-retro.com/home/2008/11/20/studioludens-have-developed-some-great-tools-but-are-they-what-consumers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-255 sivam Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:50:31 +0000 http://no-retro.com/home/?p=230#comment-255 This is a really fun tool. Don't think that it is aimed at consumers. It is difficult or impossible to reconcile and control and quirkiness of the designs that are crated due to the way the tools work. It is the quirkiness that may be the most attractive feature, because the user is still driving it but not in control ! Its full of surprises and it is very engaging. That's fun. This is a really fun tool. Don’t think that it is aimed at consumers. It is difficult or impossible to reconcile and control and quirkiness of the designs that are crated due to the way the tools work. It is the quirkiness that may be the most attractive feature, because the user is still driving it but not in control !

Its full of surprises and it is very engaging. That’s fun.

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